Spoiler alert: Do not read this blog if you’re planning to see Gone Girl, based on the book with the same name by Gillian Flynn. A few days ago I chose a romance featuring a jaded ex-lawyer who has seen too many of his fellow lawyers’ marriages crash and burn under... read more
P.D. James died over the Thanksgiving weekend. She was a master of the detective novel. The lengthy obituary in the New York Times for this celebrated crime novelist includes a number of quotes from her, among others: “I came to believe that it is perfectly possible to remain within the constraints... read more
Yay to The Mindy Project for introducing the character of Abby Berman. She appeared for the first time in the episode entitled Caramel Princess Time. Abby is smart, likeable, and a historical romance writer who describes the genre as “pornography you’re allowed to read on the subway.” Since it’s The... read more
There is one sort of beauty trap with which all women are familiar. Another one is literary. The first beauty trap involves the perception of a woman’s beauty, from childhood through old age, both as she regards herself and as she is regarded by others. A woman’s perception of her... read more
Silence surrounds the romance novel. Despite being a billion-dollar-a-year industry, romance novels are absent from high-profile book reviewing venues, literature course curricula, and general discussions of literature. Romances are also invisible. They are put in bedside drawers and not displayed either on coffee tables or on bookshelves. Sometimes they sit... read more
Stories in the flourishing BDSM subgenre feature clubs with elaborate etiquette and protocols. There are strict rules for how subs address Doms. Subs tend to arrive in proper undress, and they leave their shoes at the door. Play is confined to designated areas. Any scening outside of those areas is... read more
Puritans in England and the United States Oliver Cromwell is the most famous British Puritan. He was the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1653 until his death. He closed English inns and theaters for being dens of iniquity. Cromwell also had King Charles I... read more
In a previous blog post, I mentioned how romance novelists and avant-garde artists are at opposite ends of a numbers spectrum.[1] The number of people writing romance novels, novellas and/or short stories is huge. The number of avant-garde artists is small. If the number of people doing anything is more... read more
I love to travel, and I love to evoke a sense of place in my novels. Either I go out into the world by setting foot outside my door, or I let the world come to me, primarily through books. Right now I’m far outside my front door, namely in... read more
Here’s my slew of best romance reads. Best Romance Reads: MC Romance Jaci J The Ride (Hell’s Disciplines MC). I noticed that some of the reviewers online complained about the many spelling and grammar mistakes. They didn’t bother me. In fact, as I kept reading, I thought they were part... read more
