Carole V. Bell's Blog, page 4
March 31, 2020
Review: Not the Girl You Marry
Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
My initial feeling was that I might too close to this one—I have a long-standing academic interest in and opinions about how interracial relationships are portrayed in fiction and why it matters. And why so many of these depictions are incredibly problematic. That’s why I’ve stewed about this
My rating: 0 of 5 stars
My initial feeling was that I might too close to this one—I have a long-standing academic interest in and opinions about how interracial relationships are portrayed in fiction and why it matters. And why so many of these depictions are incredibly problematic. That’s why I’ve stewed about this
February 8, 2020
Review: Rebel Hard
Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. I keep finding myself returning to this book again and again. There are so many good things here. Absolutely lovely hero. I love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. Lots of Pride and Prejudice references but they’re smart and organic to the story rather than
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. I keep finding myself returning to this book again and again. There are so many good things here. Absolutely lovely hero. I love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. Lots of Pride and Prejudice references but they’re smart and organic to the story rather than
January 30, 2020
Review: Tweet Cute
Tweet Cute by Emma Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As befits the title and cover art, in Tweet Cute, two smart, attractive and socially insecure Manhattan teens meet cute online. In the real world, Jack and Pepper don’t like each other very much. Yet they have an easy rapport on the social networking app that's exclusively for and by kids from their school. With the
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As befits the title and cover art, in Tweet Cute, two smart, attractive and socially insecure Manhattan teens meet cute online. In the real world, Jack and Pepper don’t like each other very much. Yet they have an easy rapport on the social networking app that's exclusively for and by kids from their school. With the
January 4, 2020
Review: Rebel Hard
Rebel Hard by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. There are so many good things here. Absolutely lovely hero. I love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. Lots of Pride and Prejudice references but they’re smart and organic to the story rather than gratuitous. I also love the fact that Indian culture in New
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. There are so many good things here. Absolutely lovely hero. I love him. Love her. Love the way he loves her. Lots of Pride and Prejudice references but they’re smart and organic to the story rather than gratuitous. I also love the fact that Indian culture in New
Review: Band Sinister
Band Sinister by K.J. Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Band Sinister was without a doubt one of the best books I read in 2019. I love it for many reasons: sweetness of the central romance, the rich, multidimensional, diverse found family that surround them, the spot on homage to Heyer, Venetia in particular. But one of the strongest elements has to be K.J.
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Band Sinister was without a doubt one of the best books I read in 2019. I love it for many reasons: sweetness of the central romance, the rich, multidimensional, diverse found family that surround them, the spot on homage to Heyer, Venetia in particular. But one of the strongest elements has to be K.J.
December 21, 2019
Review: Don't You Forget About Me
Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I like everything I’ve read in the past by Mhairi McFarlane, and I like Don't You Forget About Me as well. Her writing is always strong, the blend of character, poignancy and humor skillful. But I found it a wee bit unsatisfying in two distinct ways. One, it was too familiar, an entertaining but
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I like everything I’ve read in the past by Mhairi McFarlane, and I like Don't You Forget About Me as well. Her writing is always strong, the blend of character, poignancy and humor skillful. But I found it a wee bit unsatisfying in two distinct ways. One, it was too familiar, an entertaining but
December 18, 2019
Review: Headliners
Headliners by Lucy Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having read the earlier books in the London Celebrities series, I was already convinced Lucy Parker was one of the best authors of contemporary romantic comedy writing today. Headliners more than affirms that. Take the opening paragraph:A dark day in October. There were scenes in life so gut-punchingly beautiful,
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having read the earlier books in the London Celebrities series, I was already convinced Lucy Parker was one of the best authors of contemporary romantic comedy writing today. Headliners more than affirms that. Take the opening paragraph:A dark day in October. There were scenes in life so gut-punchingly beautiful,
December 12, 2019
Review: The Worst Best Man
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I requested, read and reviewed an advance copy of this book within a few days. First I was eager, one might even say thirsty for it. Then I was hooked. Mia Sosa's The Worst Best Man is a fun multicultural romantic comedy with an opening that grabs you, an authentic voice, and a compelling enemies to lovers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I requested, read and reviewed an advance copy of this book within a few days. First I was eager, one might even say thirsty for it. Then I was hooked. Mia Sosa's The Worst Best Man is a fun multicultural romantic comedy with an opening that grabs you, an authentic voice, and a compelling enemies to lovers
December 10, 2019
Review: An Unseen Attraction
An Unseen Attraction by K.J. Charles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An Unseen Attraction is the first installment in the fantastic, engrossing Sins of the Cities series by K.J. Charles. Though these three closely interconnected books center on a deadly interfamilial feud over succession to an earldom and one of England’s greatest fortunes, this novel centers two
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
An Unseen Attraction is the first installment in the fantastic, engrossing Sins of the Cities series by K.J. Charles. Though these three closely interconnected books center on a deadly interfamilial feud over succession to an earldom and one of England’s greatest fortunes, this novel centers two
December 7, 2019
Review: They're Strictly Friends
They're Strictly Friends by Chloe Liese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is possibly the best book yet from author contemporary romance author Chloe Liese. They're Strictly Friends revolves around Lucas and Elodie, true friends, who share a powerful attraction that extends beyond the physical, but are also experiencing setbacks that make them reluctant to get
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is possibly the best book yet from author contemporary romance author Chloe Liese. They're Strictly Friends revolves around Lucas and Elodie, true friends, who share a powerful attraction that extends beyond the physical, but are also experiencing setbacks that make them reluctant to get
