Second Chance Coma: Coast Road

Coast Road (1998), by Barbara Delinsky, was published by Simon and Schuster. Though not marketed as a romance, it's essentially a second chance romance story. Jack and Rachel met in college. He was studying architecture and working as a TA in an art course, she came from a wealthy family and was studying art. His …

Grit meets Grace: Season of Wonder

Since it's shortly before Christmas, let's review a Christmas romance. Season of Wonder (Harlequin, 2018), from RaeAnne Thayne, is her ninth Haven Point novel (and her 60th book). Haven Point is an idyllic small town (is there any other kind?) in Idaho, and the new home for Dani and her two daughters. Dani left the …

More Small Town Bliss: The Best Man Takes a Bride

In The Best Man Takes a Bride, by Stacy Connelly (2018, Harlequin Special Edition, Home and Family), Jamison Porter is a single dad struggling to look after his four-year-old daughter. He had an unhappy marriage, separated, and a few months ago his wife died in car crash that also injured his daughter. His parents divorced, …

Historical Reads

I am behind in reviews, thanks to a busy month which has had more opportunity for reading, but less for writing. I praised historicals in my last post, have read many recently, and I'm going to try and catch up on reviewing them here. Click a title in the list to jump to that review. …

Escape to the Past: The Rock Creek Six

After several years of reading romance novels, I've narrowed my preferred romance story type for reading and writing: Contemporary tales featuring ordinary people, with strengths, flaws, and pasts, who are happy on their own, but find another person who helps them grow. I've enjoyed other types - paranormals, millionaire, billionaire, suspense, and so on - …

Second Chances

Travel, when it comes to my reading and writing, is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, I get extra reading time. Light reading is a perfect way to pass nervous hours on planes, and during long bus rides. On the other hand, I get less writing time. Although I can write in noisy areas …

A Redemption Mystery: The Black Sheep’s Redemption

The Black Sheep's Redemption, by Lynette Eason, is a 2012 Harlequin in the Love Inspired (Christian Romance) Suspense line. This is number five in a set of six stories, and there are the usual references to recently married family members. Just in case you were not aware of the religious aspect of the genre, a …

Danger in a Small Town: Confessing to the Cowboy

Confessing to the Cowboy is a 2013 Harlequin Romantic Suspense by Carla Cassidy. Given the random nature of my romance book purchases, I'm surprised this is my third title from Cassidy. I've previously read Just Joe and Cowboy with a Cause - the latter from the same Cowboy Cafe series. That was number three, and …

The Christmas Night Miracle

The past month has been good for reading (and book shopping with Christmas money), but not so good for writing - reviews or anything else. But with the first weekend of the new year I am heading back to more regular routine. And yes, it may seem odd that I am publishing a review of …

Jessie’s Lawman

I dropped by my closest used bookstore to pick up some old Harlequins for bubble bath reads, and the 3 for $1 romance shelf, usually just outside the door, was missing. Inside, I found new staff, who were surprised at my request, but decided that explained why the old Harlequins, in boxes on the floor, …