Author Archives: katemathena

Devil in Winter, by Lisa Kleypas, is the third book in the Wallflower Series, which follows four unsuccessful debutantes and unlikely friends through a year on the marriage mart.  Evangeline Jenner is the wallflower of wallflowers. Evie is painfully shy, and her stutter makes her an easy target for mockery.  With a sizable inheritance, EvieContinue reading “Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas”

The reasons I read romance can be summed up with one word:  JOY. I can truthfully say The Flatshare, by Beth O’Leary is pure, unadulterated joy for any romantically-inclined reader. Tiffy is in a bind.  Her boyfriend has finished with her and moved on to another woman.  This situation is doubly difficult because Tiffy isContinue reading “The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary”

Is there anything better than a book that makes you laugh out loud and sigh with contentment?  Sara Desai delivers all that, and more, in her 2020 novel, The Marriage Game. Layla Patel is at rock bottom.  After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job, she’s returned to San Francisco, and her large, lively family, toContinue reading “Review: The Marriage Game by Sara Desai”

Are you looking for a fun, silly, sexy read?  This book is not for you.   If, however, you’re looking for an author to take you on an emotional journey with a soul-satisfying conclusion If I Never Met You is just what the doctor (or the romance reviewer) ordered. Laurie has her life together.  A talentedContinue reading “If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane”

If Freud was correct, then the human personality is composed of three parts:  the id, ego, and superego. If my id walked into a bookstore, it would leave with Bastards Bargain.  This is the last book of Katee Robert’s series, The O’Malleys. Dmitri Romanov is a Russian crime boss in New York. Since book two,Continue reading “The Bastard’s Bargain by Katee Robert”

Alexis Daria’s most recent novel, You Had Me at Hola, launched last August and has been on a lot of “favorite” lists since then.  I read this book for two reasons.  First- I had to see if the hype was justified (it is). Second- the cover is GORGEOUS! I know you can’t judge a bookContinue reading “You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria”

I have a confession to make… until last week, I’d never read the romance classic, Dreaming of You, by Lisa Klepas (originally published in 1994). Don’t hate me, but I’m not a huge Kleypas fan. I’ve started a couple of her books before, but never felt compelled to finish them. When the fabulous ladies ofContinue reading “Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas”