Tag Archives: book-review

Hero or heroine—same, same but different?

I found myself going down this rabbit hole after reading  a recent article by Anastasia Safioleas on ABC online— Romantasy isn’t just hot, it’s shaping modern day fairy tales. The article interviews Australian romance author and academic Dr. Jodi McAlister and some devotees/Tiktok influencers about their passion for the genre. As Dr. McAlister reminded us romance only has two rules, a central loveContinue reading “Hero or heroine—same, same but different?”

Spice and all things nice …

Romance Writers of America provides a simple definition of a romance. Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending. Okay, I’ve got that clear. I write romance. Another critical element of a romance is its heat level. I was listening to a romance writers’ panel recently andContinue reading “Spice and all things nice …”

Fraction too much Friction

Website photo: from Gondola lookout Christchurch NZ The title of the old Tim Finn song has been on repeat in my head lately. Hard to realise it was released in 1983—that’s more than 40 years ago. I was a babe in arms, and my mother sang it as a lullaby. Not really, but … theContinue reading “Fraction too much Friction”

A Just Man—Choosing Family Book 4

Sometimes I feel like a bower bird. So many bright shiny things to collect, store, study, then turn into a book. And it can take years for all of the pieces to fall into place. A Just Man fits that category. The initial inspiration for this book was my rage at the increase in the number ofContinue reading “A Just Man—Choosing Family Book 4”

Trigger warnings and stuff I don’t want to read in a romance

Authors, academics and almost anyone who puts pen to paper have been thinking about trigger warnings for a while now. University courses carry trigger warnings. Television, streaming services, movies and books carry trigger warnings. I recently entered a writing competition and was asked to list trigger warnings. People see trigger warnings as important content warningsContinue reading “Trigger warnings and stuff I don’t want to read in a romance”