Best Books of '08

Posted on December 31, 2008 by malenalott

We’ve read. We’ve loved. We’ve conquered a massive TBR pile. So now we’re happy to have sifted through our reviews of ’08 to present our favorite reads among them. Thank you for reading and loving books as much as we do! We’re announcing fun changes and improvements to Athena’s Bookshelf tomorrow!

From Kathy Wheeler, A/B Reviewer:

Best Romance:

Passion & Pleasure in London by Melody Thomas

Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Mederios

Before the Scandal by Suzanne Enoch

From A/B editor Malena Lott:

Best General Fiction:

The Letters by Luanne Rice and Joseph Monninger

The Girl Who Stopped Swimming by Joshilynn Jackson

Best Women’s Fiction:

The Opposite of Love by Julianne Buxbaum

My Husband’s Sweethearts by Bridget Asher

Best Debut Novel:

Falling Under by Danielle Young-Ullman

Best Mom Lit:

Mrs. Perfect by Jane Porter

Best Non-Fiction:

Where Did I Leave My Glasses by Martha Weinman Lear

To Hell with All That, Loving & Loathing Our Inner Housewife, by Caitlin Flanagan

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

The Meaning of Sunglasses, Hadley Freeman

Best Inspirational Non-fiction:

More Notes from the Universe by Mike Dooley

Best Memoir:

Books: A Memoir by Larry McMurtry

Some Like It Wicked

Posted on August 26, 2008 by malenalott

Some Like It Wicked by Teresa Medeiros

First line: ”A throaty feminine moan disturbed the cozy peace of the stable loft.”

Teresa Medeiros weaves a light hearted story of a young girl who sees a hero in a man who is about to have her cousin. Yes, I said have. Wicked? Definitely. Our hero is in all places, Newgate Prison for debts unpaid. He is certainly a most unlikely hero. Of course he is dashing, rakish, scoundrel-like. I found a touching story of a man who had no idea he could grow. I really appreciated how he did not become the man of our dreams overnight. He really had to struggle to with his alcohol consumption and gambling ways. But when our heroine almost drowns, he sees the light. He did not save her; she saved herself, and then her eyes were opened. Medeiros’ descriptions carry you right into the action.

For: Readers who want to see a hero grow into his own potential – something he had no idea he had. And a heroine who can hold her own. -Kathy Wheeler

Buy it at Amazon.

New Historical Romance: August

Posted on July 23, 2008 by malenalott

If you’ve not read a historical romance novel before, you are in for a big surprise. They are richly drawn, with great period detail and tightly woven plots that usually involve danger, scandal and seduction. Why watch the History Channel when these are so much more fun?? Here’s what Avon has in store in August:

Before the Scandal by Suzanne Enoch, Some Like it Wicked by Teresa Medeiros, Surrender to Me by Sophie Jordan, Too Dangerous to Desire by Alexandra Benedict, The Mistress Diaries by Julianne MacLean