What We’ve Been Thinking About

Essays & Musings

Thoughts on books, reading, culture, and the literary life.

Jonesing for Jocks

March 31, 2014

Currently 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…

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I Wish You’d Come Back Revisited

March 28, 2014

What 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…

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AAR takes on graphic novels

March 24, 2014

I’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…

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Five Special Title Lists Open for Submission

March 17, 2014

After 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…

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When Strong is a Stereotype

March 10, 2014

I 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,…

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Between the Devil and Ian Eversea: A Pandora’s Box

March 7, 2014

Dabney 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.

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Young Adult Special Title List

March 5, 2014

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Roses are red, violets are blue. Like love poems? Here a few.

February 28, 2014

Before 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…

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We pick the “Buried Treasures” of 2013

February 26, 2014

In 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. …

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Anne Calhoun on sex, love, and romance

February 21, 2014

My 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…

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The Annual Poll results for books published in 2013 are now in!

February 17, 2014

We 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…

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Juliana Stone talks about bad boys, rock and roll, and why she names her Thanksgiving turkey

February 14, 2014

Juliana, I enjoyed The Bad Boys of Crystal Lake. Your series features three men who have been friends since they were kids and who have all come back to Crystal Lake,…

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