Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Friday, October 4, 2013

The Month That Was September 2013

Lemon Drop: Ta da!

Me:  Now where did I leave that chocolate?  And I only have, what?  That many bottles of wine left?  Not nearly enough.  Maybe this romance novel will help....

Lemon DropAhem!  I understand you had a bad week Auntie Wendy, but snap out of it!  Cuteness!  Right here in front of your face!

Me: Just promise me you won't grow up and be a bitch to anyone who works in the service industries.

Lemon Drop:  Um, do they teach that in preschool?

Me: I'm beginning to feel that way.....

Lemon Drop:  There, there Auntie Wendy.  Don't be such a mopey sad sack.  Tell me about the books you read last month.  Aren't you always telling me that books make everything all better?

Title links take you to full reviews

Louder Than Love by Jessica Topper - Contemporary romance with heavy women's fiction overtones, Berkley, 2013, Grade = C-
  • Librarian heroine still grieving for dead husband meets and falls for a former heavy metal rock god.  What was a good idea on paper gets bogged down with wispy conflict and too much internal monologue'ing.  But the parts that are good, are really good (the music "stuff" especially).
Highlanders by Brenda Joyce, Terri Brisbin & Michelle Willingham - Historical romance anthology, Harlequin, 2013, Grade = B-
  • Typical anthology, which is to say I found it to be a mixed back.  Read it for the Willingham story, which was the best in the bunch (although the Brisbin fell into my "OK" range).
The Bridge by Rebecca Maher Rogers - Contemporary romance novella, Self-Published, 2013, Grade = B+
  • The read of the month.  Hero and heroine meet on the Brooklyn Bridge - where they've both come to commit suicide.  Just trust me on this one.  Click on the title link and read my review.
Spin by Bella Love - Contemporary romance novella, Self-Published, 2013, Grade = B-
  • Heroine determined to leave her white trash past behind gets all spun up by the hero, a Small Town Bad Boy
Eyes of Silver, Eyes of Gold by Ellen O'Connell - Historical romance, Self-Published, 2010, Grade = B-
  • Compelling historical western, but the more I think about the writing the more ticked off I get.  Oh, and Rosie?  You still haven't blogged.
Wish Me Tomorrow by Karen Rock - Contemporary romance, Harlequin Heartwarming, 2013, Grade = B-
  • Single father with bone cancer falls for nurse/grief counselor.  A debut with some uneven moments, but a solid emotional core.
The Sweetheart Bargain by Shirley Jump - Contemporary romance, Berkley, 2013, Grade = B
  • Heroine looking for answers about her past falls for the injured Coast Guard pilot who lives next door.  The first in a small town contemporary series, cute with an undercurrent of angst.
Lemon Drop:  See?  Don't you feel better already?  And look at all the B reads!

Me: Yeah, I guess I do.  Although having a Harlequin Presents Greek tycoon sweep me off my feet would probably make everything really, really all better.

Lemon DropAhem, Uncle My Man.  Remember him?

Me:  He's no tycoon.  And he's Irish.  If Harlequin has taught me anything it's that all tycoons are either Greek, Italian or Sicilian. 

Lemon Drop:  You need help Auntie Wendy.  You should go read another romance novel.  And maybe down another glass of fermented grapes while you're at it.....

Me: Don't mind if I do!

6 comments:

azteclady said...

As another warrior in the service industries, I feel your pain--and wish I drank, it'd probably make life a lot more bearable.

Rosie?????


Kristie????


*ahem*

Good reading month, all in all--mostly B books, that's great.

Lori said...

I bet none of those Greek/Italian/Sicilian tycoons has your guy's gift for gift-giving :)

I'm sorry that people are being crappy. (What is wrong with people who are mean to service people, especially librarians for Pete's sake?). May you have a restorative weekend filled with wine, chocolate and good books and may the jerks get their heads out of their rears for next week. Or stay home. That works too.

Buriedbybooks said...

Nice! Lots of B grades. But...I refuse to believe that Lemon Drop is that big already.

Sorry people are being jerks. :(

Wendy said...

AL: Mean people suck. I really, really hope karma is an actual thing because it's the only thing keeping me from running out my front door screaming hysterically.....

Wendy said...

Lori: Well, they probably don't. And My Man? I never have to fear "punishing kisses" - because frankly those sound like they'd hurt!

Wendy said...

Amber: It was a solid reading month. Nothing that really stuck out as "OMG - this is awful." Anytime the B's outnumber the lower grade, that's always a good thing!