2024…. this was a year of reading to escape. I did a lot of rereading–it helps to put me to sleep at night–but still managed to read almost 70 books I’d not explored before. However, as usual, many of those books aren’t going to be out until 2025. Thank the gods for Goodreads! After sorting…
Merry Christmas to all. I wish you hope and joy, in darkness and in light. Here’s to grace, peace, and love. 2024 was a tumultuous and often tough year for many, including me. Throughout it all, camaraderie, wisdom, humor, and support regularly flourished here at AAR. Thank you. You, dear readers, are a gift….
As we approach the end of the year, I start running reports–how we’re doing financially, what pages readers visit the most, etc…. One I run each year that becomes less and less accurate thanks to Kindle Unlimited–Amazon releases no numbers for books borrowed in that program–is what books did we sell the most of? Thus…
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 of A+: Bridesmaid for Hire by Megan Quinn and The Perfect Find by Tia Williams. (Not all of the books we’ve reviewed have been romances.)…
Last week’s ask column irked many. One reader emailed me to tell me I was off base in my comments, another cancelled her financial support of AAR, and several others got close to testy in the comments. I thought it would be interesting to pull up some older conversations at AAR and see how or…
Yesterday we reviewed–and loved–the latest by Ali Hazelwood who is one of the doyens of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) romance. I think she might be the first author I recall whose work was branded with that title but I’m not sure. STEM romances are also about the long standing and pervasive sexism women…
I wrote about AI and its writing prowess over a year ago in this column. Many of those of you who commented then felt that ChatGPT’s writing was soulless and repetitive and unlikely to usurp that of us humans. I thought it would be interesting to share an update and see if your feelings have…
Dr. Feelgood and I have been watching Fargo–the TV show, not the iconic film–and, midway into season three, I think we’re done. The first two seasons were wildly violent but at least–more or less–the show made sense. The premises of season three are absurdly unbelievable AND Noah Hawley, the showrunner, keeps giving into flights of…
At one point in time, RWA (Romance Writers of America) was the envy of other genre writers. With over 10,000 members, a robust conference, and courses and tools for published and unpublished writers, it nurtured the careers of many for over four decades. It was, however, always a traditionally leaning organization. In this century, they…
I just finished a contemporary romance that has lots going for it. It’s oftentimes hilarious, it has an appealing himbo hero, and an interesting locale. On those merits, I’d give the novel a B. But, when I finished it, I was shaking my head and thinking hard pass. Why? Well, in the first sex scene…
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