the ask@AAR: Do you own a piece of art that you love?

September 27, 2024

When I was first out of college in the utterly shit job market that was 1983, I, oddly, vowed to never put anything but original art on my walls. I…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: Are people finally done trashing romance?

September 20, 2024

Romance novels are EVERYWHERE right now. Each week, a new romance book store opens; the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, even The Guardian all review romance. Bookstores that previously didn’t carry…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: How do you take care of yourself?

September 13, 2024

Google the phrase “self-care” and you’ll see endless entries. Self care is all about looking after yourself. It means taking the time to tend to your physical, spiritual, mental, and…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: What percent of your romance reading is re-reading?

September 6, 2024

I’m always slightly irked at the number of books Goodreads says I’ve read each year. In 2024, the app says, I’ve read 52 books but that’s incorrect. I’m sure I’ve…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: Do you need your characters to be likeable?

August 30, 2024

I’ve read several book reviews lately praising the unlikable lead (which is not the same as flawed). The implication in these reviews is that the traits that make someone likeable…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: How have your reading habits changed over the past decade?

August 23, 2024

Much to my amazement, I now regularly read non-fiction. (I blame Barbara Tuchman.) After decades of struggling to finish fat, detailed non-fictional works, I find, at my nightly reading, I’m…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: Is 2024 the year for romance at the movies?

August 16, 2024

Love is everywhere this year… at least at the movies, both theatrical and streamed. Everyone is making them, watching them, and showing them! I, of course, think this is the…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: How do you feel about angst in romance?

August 9, 2024

I confess I struggle to find a balance of angst in my romance reading. Though I adore Meredith Duran, I did not enjoy her last published romance, The Sins of…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: What do you think is sexy in a hero?

August 2, 2024

I just watched the Netflix romcom The Family Affair. If you haven’t seen it, it’s fun. But I found myself distracted in the movie by Nicole Kidman’s weird face and,…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: What genre do you read the most?

July 26, 2024

Romantasy is everywhere these days. It is the genre in romance that, currently, dominates much of the best-seller list and the conversation around romance. (Honestly, the fact that Sarah Maas’…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: What’s the best romance of the year thus far?

July 19, 2024

We’re more than halfway through 2024–where DOES the time go? Thus far, AAR reviewers have designated 59 books (out of 178 reviewed) as DIKs. Two have received the rare grade…

Read Article

the ask@AAR: What’s the greatest sports romance/series in romance?

July 12, 2024

It may surprise you to learn there are eight sports romances on the current (2018) AAR Top 100 List. Five are from Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series: Match Me…

Read Article