Paperback Reader

Joss Whedon surely could not have predicted the monster he created when he resurrected Buffy the Vampire Slayer (any and all puns intended). Suddenly the world of romance fiction was chock-full of kick-ass heroines. Worse, he lead to what is the world’s most serious glut of vampires. It’s amazing they’re not five for a dozen on every street corner.

As bored and burned-out romance readers cringe at the thought of yet another vampire story, authors, perhaps told that paranormal remains hot, hot, hot, try to find new myths, new legends, new ways to extend the fortunes of their foreauthors.

Entering the fray is L.L. Foster with a new paranormal series. First up is Servant: The Awakening. L.L. Foster is a not-so-secret pseudonym for Lori Foster, leading me to wonder about the efficacy of the whole rebranding exercise when the publisher goes all out to make sure that the reader knows who really wrote the book.

We are in the holiday spirit at PBR and want you to be as well. What better way to do that than a holiday giveaway?

Yeah, we thought so.

The rules are easy. They go like this...

File under: better late than never Hanukkah reviews.*

So, yeah, a while back, the discussion turned to holiday books and possible holiday book reviews. While I didn't say it then, I'll say it now: I pretty much hate holiday themed romance novels. There's something about the forced conflict, the fake celebrations, and general shoving of square pegs into round holes that make these books feel contrived. Or, maybe to put it another way, rather than the holiday serving as an organic plot element, it sticks out like a certain reindeer.

Without the cute song and generally inspiring message.

I sort of decided to punt on the whole holiday book review thing, and, if I do say so myself, did a fairly good job. Until the niggle. It's always the niggle, you know? A few years ago (has it really been that long?), I reviewed two inspirational romances with Christmas themes. Both books, written by different authors, were distressingly similar -- and equally unsatisfying. To the point where the romantic and inspirational elements were paint-by-numbers interesting. In fact, if I recall correctly, I lamented the genuine lack of faith reflected in most so-called inspirational romances.**

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!