Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Good, But Not Great? I’ll Take It

A Crown of Bitter Orange by Laura Florand

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I miss Laura Florand! She’s been taking a well-earned break from a prodigious output of swoon-inducing and charming contemporary romances set in the worlds of pastry, chocolate, and perfumery. Her great gift as a romance writer is in creating the heady intensity of small romantic moments, as well as portraying elements of sexual tension and anticipation. Creating characters, she excels at people who balance each other out, often providing a security or grounding that one of them has lacked.  I’m hoping Florand will return with her […]

This Barely Qualifies as a Romance

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

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Since joining NetGalley a few months ago, I have requested 3 Christina Lauren books and finally approved for Twice in a Blue Moon, due October 22. Their publisher may never approve me again, because I did not like this book. Tate Jones, secret daughter of a famous actor, goes to London with her grandmother as a high school graduation present. While there she meets 21 year old Sam Brandis, who is travelling with his grandfather, for some reason. Tate and Sam fall in love, have sex, […]

Romance and Reproductive Choice

Not Another Family Wedding by Jackie Lau

The Ultimate Pi Day Party by Jackie Lau

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Around the time the Alabama Anti-Abortion bill passed, there was a conversation on twitter about romances that dealt with abortion in a positive/normalizing manner. You can find many of the tweets with #RomanceforRoe. It’s most often been treated as a moral issue instead of a healthcare issue, and that should go out the door with slut shaming. A few readers and authors chimed in with books that addressed abortion as a healthcare choice that didn’t ruin the main character’s life. Canadian author Jackie Lau pointed […]

Not for me, maybe for you.

All Hours (One Night in South Beach Book 6) by Andie J. Christopher

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I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I requested this book because Andie J. Christopher is an author I follow on Twitter, but I haven’t read one of her books yet. There is a lot to enjoy about this book. Christopher writes well and I enjoyed most of the book. The issue I had with All Hours is a personal bette noir and one with which a lot of people wouldn’t have a problem. Felix Pascual is struggling to […]

If you like good romance, just get this book already

The Austen Playbook by Lucy Parker

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Disclaimer! I got an ARC from NetGalley. This has in no way influenced my review.  I had already pre-ordered my copy of the book months ago, long before the ARCs became available. Also, because I am terribly late in reviewing it, the book is available on sale from the e-book vendor of your choice. It’s excellent, you should totally spend your monies on it! But what is the book about, Malin? You cannot expect people to fork out their hard-earned cash without knowing anything of the […]

Early Jill Mansell Re-Release….Not my Cup of Tea

Kiss by Jill Mansell

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I received this book for free via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review. This book will be released on August 1, 2019.  So this book was published in 1993, and boy does it show. I think a few times Mansell probably went through and tried to update (she brings up Harry Styles at one point) but other dated references are still here (a new release of an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie). I could have overlooked that if the story had been good. Too […]



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