Review - - Can't Escape Love

Can't Escape Love:A Reluctant Royals Novella
by Alyssa Cole
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Release Date: March 19, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Regina Hobbs is nerdy by nature, businesswoman by nurture. She's finally taking her pop culture-centered media enterprise, Girls with Glasses, to the next level, but the stress is forcing her to face a familiar supervillain: insomnia. The only thing that helps her sleep when things get this bad is the deep, soothing voice of puzzle-obsessed live streamer Gustave Nguyen. The problem? His archive has been deleted.

Gus has been tasked with creating an escape room themed around a romance anime…except he knows nothing about romance or anime. Then mega-nerd and anime expert Reggie comes calling, and they make a trade: his voice for her knowledge. But when their online friendship has IRL chemistry, will they be able to escape love?

My thoughts:

Brimming with originality, this novella features engaging characters I couldn't help but cheer for, a depth of emotion typically only found in full-length books, the imperfections that make all of us unique, and the joy experienced when we find that person who not only accepts but celebrates us for who we are. Reggie is a brilliant business owner, sci fi and anime geek, "good" twin, and over-achiever who also lives with an illness-induced disability that requires her to use a wheelchair - but does not define her. Gus, a former podcaster, is an emotionally challenged, super nerdy designer of escape rooms who lives on the autism spectrum and possesses a soothing voice that Reggie needs to calm enough to sleep. And I am the non-nerdy reader old enough to be their grandmother, who would be hard pressed to name a sci fi character or anime movie, who absolutely adored them. 

Thus is the brilliance of Alyssa Cole's writing and her ability to fully immerse readers into the hearts, minds, and lives of her unforgettable characters and the journeys of her imagination. Begin with Can't Escape Love. Move on to the other stories in the Reluctant Royals series. I can't recommend them highly enough.

Have you read Alyssa Cole's books yet?

Have you "met" any nerdy, quirky, and adorably awkward romance characters who captured your attention and affection?

I have two giveaways today, thanks to my weekend at Avon's KissCon. (more on that later)

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), April 18 will receive a signed print copy of A Princess in Theory, the first book in Alyssa Cole's Reluctant Royals series.  (U.S. only) (read Hellie's Top Dish review)

Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.

Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.

The chemistry between them is instant and irresistible, and flirty friendship quickly evolves into passionate nights. But when the truth is revealed, can a princess in theory become a princess ever after?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), April 18 will receive a signed print copy of A Prince on Paper, the third full-length book in Cole's Reluctant Royals series - which won't be released to the public until April 29!
(U.S. only)

Nya Jerami fled Thesolo for the glitz and glamour of NYC but discovered that her Prince Charming only exists in her virtual dating games. When Nya returns home for a royal wedding, she accidentally finds herself up close and personal—in bed—with the real-life celebrity prince who she loves to hate.

For Johan von Braustein, the red-headed step-prince of Liechtienbourg, acting as paparazzi bait is a ruse that protects his brother—the heir to the throne—and his own heart. When a royal referendum threatens his brother’s future, a fake engagement is the perfect way to keep the cameras on him.

Nya and Johan both have good reasons to avoid love, but as desires are laid bare behind palace doors, they must decide if their fake romance will lead to a happily-ever-after.

Review - - Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not
by Brenda Jackson
Catalina Cove - Book 2
Publisher: HQN
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Ashley Ryan never doubted that her husband, Devon, was the love of her life. Even now, three years after Devon died in a car wreck while on a business trip, Ashley can’t bring herself to move on. But when her girlfriends surprise her with a getaway to beautiful Catalina Cove, Louisiana, she gets the shock of her life when she encounters a man—bearded, more rugged than before, but unmistakably her Devon.

“Ray Sullivan” moved to this quiet coastal town after waking up in a hospital with amnesia. Haunted by a life he can’t remember, he’s built walls around his heart and a quiet life running boat tours—a life that includes no recollection of Ashley, a woman he suddenly finds himself irresistibly drawn to.

Doctors warn Ashley of the danger in forcing her husband to remember the past. Though she longs to tell him the truth, she finds herself falling all over again for a man she knows may never truly come back to her. In this place where healing and second chances are just a heartbeat away, can love take root once more?

My thoughts:

I have fallen in love with Brenda Jackson's Catalina Cove. I want to travel to Louisiana, book a room at Vashti's B&B, take a tour on Ray's boat, walk the beach, sample the fresh seafood, and get to know the intriguing people who populate this small southern town that Jackson's brought to life on the pages of this series. 

Though I would never want to experience it myself, I admit, I'm a pushover for an amnesia romance and Jackson has created one that pushed all my emotional buttons. My heart was with Ashley as, three years after her husband's death, she's still struggling to harness her grief and move on. Having her mother shove "new husband" candidates at her certainly isn't helping. Discovering her dead husband is very much alive but has no memory of his life before the accident creates a delicate line she must walk and I was with her every step of the way. Jackson kept my emotions bouncing as I was immersed into Ashley's thoughts, fears, and hopes during her gradual and realistically depicted journey as she begins to learn about this new version of the man she married. 

Ray's actions and reactions felt very real to me. I enjoyed his friendship with Sawyer and Kaegan. I understood his reluctance to get involved with a woman, not knowing what his life had been pre-amnesia. Jackson skillfully guides him through the ups and downs of his journey with Ashley with  heart-tugging emotion and realistic reticence. As Devon is slowly revealed through flashbacks and through Ashley's thoughts, we begin to know the man he once was. At the same time, through his present-day interactions with Ashley, both she and the reader come to know Ray as he is now. My heart ached for what Ray has, and continues, to go through. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to know you had a life, friends, family, but remember nothing about it. 

Will Devon regain his memory and return to the wife he once loved? Will Ashley fall in love with Ray, who is very different from Devon, and move forward in a new relationship with the man to whom she's already married? Or will the resolution of this story be something else entirely? You're going to have to travel to Catalina Cove through the pages Forget Me Not to discover the answers. It's a journey I enthusiastically recommend.


What setting (city, state, country) have you discovered in a romance novel that you'd love to visit in real life?

Forget Me Not is Brenda Jackson's 100th Harlequin novel. Have you read her books yet? Do you have a favorite?

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 29 will receive a signed, print copy of a Brenda Jackson book. (I don't know which book yet as I'll be buying it at next week's Avon KissCon event.)  
U.S. addresses only.

RWA 2018 - Westward Bound (Part Two)

From the first day, it was apparent that this year's RWA national conference would be different. From Suzanne Brockmann's speech at the RITA® ceremony, to Sonali Dev's heartfelt address at the Librarians Day/Bloggers Day luncheon (listen to Sonali's speech here), to workshops, parties, hallway conversations, and more, two themes echoed throughout this year's conference: diversity and inclusion. It's time. Frankly, it's beyond time. Were all of the obstacles conquered? No, but nothing is accomplished without taking that first step and this year's conference was a solid step forward to a time when every reader will be able to open a romance novel and see herself reflected in the pages of a hopeful love story with a happy ending. Regardless of our skin color, ethnicity, gender, body type, disability, or sexual orientation, we all are worthy of that happy ending. Whether we're the recipient, experiencing the journey while reading a favorite novel, or the creator of that story, we all deserve the opportunity to love, be loved, and create love. And while both authors and readers should be able to see people like them on the pages of the books they write and/or read, we should also celebrate the books that reflect our differences.  

My circle of friends includes people from different countries, with different skin colors, different religious beliefs, different political points of view, different body types, challenges, weaknesses, and strengths. Knowing them does not bring strife into my life. Instead, it fills my life with a richness I might not have otherwise known. It promotes understanding and appreciation of experiences different from my own. So do the books written by authors of different colors, ethnicities, and sexual orientation that feature characters with life experiences far removed from that of a middle-class, heterosexual, caucasian woman raised in a midwestern U.S. state. 

A Princess in Theory was created by the exceptionally talented  Alyssa Cole and features a Nigerian prince hero and an orphaned NYC scientist heroine who has no idea that she might actually be a Nigerian princess. About as far from my upbringing as one can get, right? I loved it. In fact, it is one of my favorite books published this year. How sad it would have been if this author's words had not been published, if I had not bought this book written by an author of color with characters so different from me. And yet, that's exactly what happens with too many authors of color working hard for the opportunity to have their books published...and purchased. There are many diverse books and diverse authors out there just waiting to be discovered by all of us. We have only to step out of our comfort zones and give them a chance. I'm going to make a concerted effort to read more of them and bring them to your attention here at the blog. In the meantime, here are some of the talented, diverse authors I had the pleasure of chatting with at this year's RWA conference. Please, do consider reading their books.

Kianna Alexander & A.C. Arthur

Kianna Alexander and A.C. Arthur. 

A.C. Arthur hit my radar last month when she was a guest at the Romance of Reading page at Facebook. It was such a pleasure to meet her in person and I'm looking forward to reading her books. One Perfect Moment, the third book in her The Taylors of Temptation series was released in print July 17 and will be out in ebook on August 1. A.C. lives in Maryland and has worked in the legal field for more than 20 years.

Kianna Alexander has been a well-known name in romance for the past decade. Writing has helped her through difficult times in her life as I have no doubt her books have brought love and hope to those readers who buy them. The book she's holding in the photo is A San Diego Romance, part of the Millionaire Moguls series. 

And yes, both ladies were just as warm and friendly in person as they appear in the photo!

Pintip Dunn

Pintip Dunn is the author of Sci-Fi Young Adult Fiction. Her debut novel, Forget Tomorrow won the 2016 RITA® for Best First Book and the second novel in that series, Remember Yesterday won the 2018 RITA® last week for Best Young Adult Novel. Pintip is warm, engaging, intelligent (magna cum laude graduate of Harvard with a J.D. from Yale Law School), and an exceptionally talented writer. She's also one of the nicest people around. I just can't help but smile whenever I'm in her presence.

Alyssa Cole

Alyssa Cole was born to write. This accomplished, award-winning author of both historical and contemporary romances is a star on the rise. As I stated above, A Princess in Theory (contemporary romance)  is one of my favorite books of 2018. The second book in this new series, A Duke by Default, featuring a grumpy Scots hero and an American heroine finally taking control of her life, will be released July 31. It's another winner! In addition to writing romance, Cole is also a science editor and has contributed many romance-related articles to a variety of publications. Her novella, "Let Us Dream," in Daughters of a Nation was a 2017 RITA® Finalist. 

Beverly Jenkins

I don't know anyone in the world of romance who does not admire and respect Beverly Jenkins. This self-professed "slayer of words" has been bringing the stories of African-American characters to life for the past 25 years. From the American Civil War to the Old West to present-day Kansas, her complex and exquisitely crafted characters leap from the pages of her beloved novels. Awarded the 2017 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award, Jenkins has also been nominated for the NAACP Image Award in Literature, was featured in the romance documentary, "Love Between the Covers." and on CBS Sunday Morning. Ms. Bev, as she's called by many, is smart, sassy, warm, inclusive, generous, kind, and immensely talented. Click here to read Hellie's Top Dish review of her historical romance novel, Breathless and here to read Janga's review of Chasing Down a Dream, the eighth book in her contemporary Blessings series. 

Rich Amooi, Sonali Dev, Silvi Martin

Sonali Dev was the luncheon speaker for this year's Librarians Day/Blogger Day event. The message of acceptance, opportunity, and inclusion that she delivered was heartfelt and timely. Though infused with plenty of her signature humor, this was a serious topic that, clearly, has impacted both her life and the lives of family members and dear friends. By the time she finished, there was not a dry eye to be found. The mastery of her words and depth of life experience shared in her speech, that reached the heart of each person at my luncheon table, are on full display in her award-winning novels featuring characters and customs from India, the country of her birth. 

Xio Axelrod

Xio (pronounced ZEE-oh) Axelrod writes contemporary romance, romantic fiction, and what she refers to as strange, twisted tales. She also writes erotica under the name of Xio Nin. When not busy creating stories, this multi-talented woman can be found in a music studio, writing and/or recording. This USA Today bestselling author was honored this year as one of the 2018 RWA Service Award recipients. Last year, she founded the Philadelphia Chapter of RWA and she's also a founding member of Philly Loves Romance, an author group dedicated to raising the profile of romance in their area. 

Brenda Jackson

Brenda Jackson is a trailblazer in the romance genre who has published more than 100 novels and novellas and has more than 10 million books in print. Stop and think about that for a moment. Ten. Million. Books. Jackson was the first African-American author to be published by the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line and also the first African-American author to hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists for series romance. Jackson has received many awards in her distinguished career, including the 2012 Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. Not content to rest on her laurels, she continues to write (full-time now that she's retired from her non-writing career), attend events where readers can meet her, and give back to her community in a variety of ways, including educational scholarships. One of her books, Truly Everlasting has been made into a movie which has been featured on Netflix. Another book, A Silken Thread is set to be made into a movie that will be directed by the multi-talented Debbie Allen and distributed by Lions Gate. 

Alisha Rai

The first time I met Alisha Rai, I heard her before I saw her. While gifted with gorgeous, dark eyes and a wide, beaming smile, it was her exuberant, unfettered laugh that drew me across a crowded room, intent on meeting this woman who was filled with so much joy. She continues to draw people to her, both personally and through her books. Complex, emotional, and deeply sensual, these are stories not to be missed. Rai is the first author to have an indie-published book named to The Washington Post's annual Best Books list and has also been on annual Best Books lists at NPR, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, Kirkus, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. 

Nicki Salcedo & PJ

From my introduction to Nicki Salcedo at the Georgia Romance Writers Moonlight & Magnolias conference almost ten years ago, it was clear there was something very special about this woman. She's someone I admire, respect, and am proud to call my friend. We tell people we're sisters. You see the resemblance, right? (by the way, the matching blue outfits were not planned) Nicki is a whip-smart Stanford grad and gifted writer who shares her talent through books, essays, short stories, mentoring, and speaking engagements. She's also a hardworking wife and mom with a full-time job outside of her writing/speaking commitments. Her essays are thought-provoking (check out Intersections, a collection of essays published in her weekly column at Decaturish.com) and her debut novel, All Beautiful Things has a special place on my keeper shelf. 

Cheryl Etchison, Marielle Browne, Tracey Livesay

I met Tracey Livesay (far right) at last fall's Buns and Roses Tea in Texas and was immediately impressed by her intelligence and wit...not to mention her fabulous fashion sense (click here for Buns & Roses photo). A former criminal defense attorney, she left her law career behind to pursue her passion of writing romance and those of us who read her books are glad she did. Her novels have been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, and on CBS This Morning. If you haven't read Livesay's books yet, I recommend any of them but especially Love Will Always Remember. 

Alexis Daria, PJ, Priscilla Oliveras

And last, but certainly not least, Alexis Daria and Priscilla Oliveras. 

Daria, an award-winning contemporary romance author from New York is gaining fans left and right. Her debut novel, Take the Lead which features a Puerto Rican heroine and a romance that unfolds during a TV celebrity dance competition not only was named one of the Best Romances of 2017 by Entertainment Weekly and The Washington Post but was a double finalist for the 2018 RITA®  and took home the award for Best First Book. Daria also received the RWA New York City Chapter's 2018 Golden Apple Award for Author of the Year. Like so many romance authors I've met, Daria also enjoys giving back. She states on her website that her most fulfilling job has been as a group facilitator at a women's empowerment community where she was instrumental in helping other women follow their creative dreams.

As Priscilla Oliveras shares on her website, with a Mexican American father who served in the US Navy and a Puerto Rican mother who earned her business degree from the University of Puerto Rico, it stands to reason her contemporary romances would be filled with a beautiful blend of her Latino heritage and, as she puts it, "good ol' US of A traditions." Her debut novel, His Perfect Partner was a 2018 RITA® double finalist and earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. This busy mom who holds one bachelor's degree and two master's also enjoys tennis, running, theater, dancing, and sports. Because she's a Cubs fan (yay!) and so darn nice, I'm going to overlook the fact that she also cheers for the Florida Gators. ;-) 

Both Oliveras and Daria are part of the 4 Chicas, a group of four romance authors celebrating life, love, and romance with a Latinx flavor. Find them on Facebook. 


Have you read any of the authors spotlighted above?


Do you have any favorite books written by diverse authors or featuring diverse characters that you'd like to recommend?

One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, July 28, 2018 will receive a package of books and swag from this year's RWA conference. (U.S. addresses only)