Rachel Reads & Reviews

Romance Novels: The Spice Factor

Here’s another question that will hopefully spark some discussion. I’ve noticed as I read historical romances that the steam factor increases book by book. I’ll use Joanna Shupe’s Fifth Avenue Rebels as an example as it’s the series that I really began to notice the trend. The first book almost always features a virginal heroine…

rachelbeerwoman

February 4, 2025

Uncategorized

#evaleigh, #fifthavenuerebels, #historicalromance, #joannashupe, #kink, #lastchancescoundrels, #mayrodale, #regencyromance, #romance, #sexinhistoricalromance, #sexinromance, #spice, #steam, #unionofrakes
Contemporary vs Historical Romance: Which do you prefer?

No review or rankings this time, I just thought I’d put a question out there. I know, it’s unlikely since I don’t get many comments but if you want to comment, please comment!! Anyway, on to my question, in a recent poll on instagram I asked if people prefer historical romance or contemporary romance? Contemporary…

rachelbeerwoman

February 3, 2025

Uncategorized

#contemporaryromance, #historicalromance, #question, #regencyromance, #romance, #whichdoyouprefer
The Queen’s Council: A Sword in Slumber Review

Briar Rose loves her life in the small Austrian town of Hausach, where she sings, dances, and runs wild through the woods with her best friend Frieda. But with her curse broken and Maleficent slain, Briar must leave her happy enclave to take her rightful place as Aurora, princess of Austria and betrothed of Prince…

rachelbeerwoman

February 2, 2025

Reviews

#aswordinslumber, #disneyhyperion, #fantasy, #rachelreads&reviews, #sararaasch, #sleepingbeauty, #thequeen'scouncil, #YA
Emmett Review

Emmett Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence and had lived nearly eighteen years in the world with very little to distress or vex him. Emmett knows he’s blessed. And because of that, he tries to give back: from charity work to letting…

rachelbeerwoman

February 1, 2025

Reviews

#contemporaryromance, #emma, #emmett, #janeausten, #levacrosen, #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders, #rachelreads&reviews, #retelling, #YA
Book of the Month: Lace

“Which one of you bitches is my mother?”Four elegant, successful, and sophisticated women in their forties are called to New York’s Pierre Hotel to meet Lili — a beautiful, young, and notoriously temperamental Hollywood movie star. None of the women knows exactly why she is there; each has a reason to hate Lili and each…

rachelbeerwoman

January 31, 2025

Book/Author Highlight

#80s, #feminism, #harcourtpress, #lace, #rachelreads&reviews, #shirleyconran, #soaopera, #women’sfiction
Roz Demir is Not the One Review

Ros will do whatever it takes to get the guy. At least… she thinks she will. Sixteen-year-old Ros is a go-getter. When she wants something, she makes sure she gets it. But a lingering rumor (and maybe some ambivalence about her half-Turkish heritage) has kept Ros from achieving the kind of reputation she deserves. So,…

rachelbeerwoman

January 30, 2025

Reviews

#comingofage, #contemporary, #holidayhouse, #leylabrittan, #rachelreads&reviews, #realisticfiction, #rosdemirisnottheone, #YA
J.C. Peterson Interview

J.C. Peterson is the YA and adult rom-com author for bookish readers. Her novels include Being Mary Bennet, and Lola, At Last. She graciously took the time to answer my questions about Pitch Wars, P7P and what she has coming next. Enjoy! 1. You got your start with PitchWars, what did the mentor program entail? …

rachelbeerwoman

January 29, 2025

Interview

#beingmarybennet, #contemporaryromance, #j.c.peterson, #lolaatlast, #prideandprejudice, #rachelreads&reviews, #retelling, #YA
Cool find: Riverdale High

So I think most everyone knows these ‘New Look” stories that briefly lit up the Archie scene in the early 2000s. Very controversial when they came. Fans derided the art as ugly or unnatural, but since they didn’t replace the ‘house style’, the vitriol faded and the readers accepted each exciting new look event for…

rachelbeerwoman

January 28, 2025

Book Suggestions

#archiecomics, #badboytrouble, #bookseries, #breakupblues, #comics, #goodbyeforever, #graphicnovels, #it’sfirstlovejugheadjones, #melaniejmorgan, #michaelpellowski, #newlook, #nobaseballforbetty, #onelastdatewitharchie, #rachelreads&reviews, #riverdalehigh, #thebigbreakup, #thematchmakers, #tourtroublesandbettycooperbaseballstar
Hailey Alcaraz Interview

Hailey Alcaraz is the author of Up in Flames and the upcoming Rosa by Any Other Name. She graciously took the time to answer my questions and talk about her love for retellings, the impact of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and more about her upcoming work. Enjoy! 1. Let’s start simple, what were some…

rachelbeerwoman

January 27, 2025

Interview

#haileyalcaraz, #hispanicheritage, #latinx, #rachelreads&reviews, #retellings, #rosabyanyothername, #upinflames, #YA
Keala Kendall Interview

Keala Kendall is the upcoming author of How Far I’ll Go and No One Gets Left Behind in the Twisted Tale series. A hapa Native Hawaiian writer of descent, she is also the co-founder of Pacific Islanders in Publishing and works to increase the PI-diasphora representation in literature. She graciously took the time to answer…

rachelbeerwoman

January 27, 2025

Interview

#disneyhyperion, #hawaiidiasphora, #howfarI’llgo, #kealakendall, #pacificislander, #rachelreads&reviews, #soonripesoonrotten, #twistedtales, #YA