The Journal
Blog
Thoughts on books, reading, culture, and the literary life.
Music of the Soul
April 2, 2014Rita Dove said that “Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful.” I totally agree with that. Whether it is painting a beautiful picture or capsulizing an ugly…
Read Article
Jonesing for Jocks
March 31, 2014Currently I am assiduously avoiding sports. Literally. Much of my family is in another room swearing at the television as my husband’s alma mater fights to move forward in the…
Read Article
I Wish You’d Come Back Revisited
March 28, 2014What a difference two years makes. Almost to the day two years ago I wrote a blog about authors, or author styles, I wished would come back to us readers. I wasn’t…
Read Article
AAR takes on graphic novels
March 24, 2014I’m very excited to announce that AAR will be reviewing romance graphic novels. We’ve reviewed a few in the past, but this will be an organized effort. What is a…
Read Article
Five Special Title Lists Open for Submission
March 17, 2014After a brief break we’re happy to announce that this morning five Special Title Lists are open for new submissions: (1) Spies, P.I.’s, & Warriors; (2) War; (3) Cons, Burglars, and…
Read Article
When Strong is a Stereotype
March 10, 2014I recently came across this wonderful piece by Sophia McDougall called “I hate Strong Female Characters.” McDougall is not referring to female characters with physical and emotional strength (for instance,…
Read Article
Between the Devil and Ian Eversea: A Pandora’s Box
March 7, 2014Dabney is an obsessive Pennyroyal Green reader. Caz is relatively new to the series. Today they chat about Ms. Long’s latest, Between the Devil and Ian Eversea.
Read Article
Young Adult Special Title List
March 5, 2014[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] As our Young Adult Special Titles List was…
Read Article
Roses are red, violets are blue. Like love poems? Here a few.
February 28, 2014Before romance novels there were love poems. Sometimes sweet, sometimes tender, sometimes raunchy but always intimate and direct. Most love poems are from the author to a specific lover, a…
Read Article
We pick the “Buried Treasures” of 2013
February 26, 2014In 2013, self-publishing was mainstream, social media allowed authors more specific ways to publicize their work, and everyone had a strongly held opinion about what constituted a great romance novel. …
Read Article
Anne Calhoun on sex, love, and romance
February 21, 2014My pick for best romance of 2013 was the very sexy Uncommon Passion by Anne Calhoun. (AAR readers liked it too: It won Best Erotica/Romantica in our most recent Annual…
Read Article
The Annual Poll results for books published in 2013 are now in!
February 17, 2014We added several new categories this year: New Adult, Young Adult, Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements and Best Sci-fi/Fantasy Romance. We are pleased to see that the new categories…
Read Article