Raelene Gorlinsky
My life revolves around reading (800
books in my TBR mountain), writing
(book reviews for fun; technical
writing as a profession),
and 'rithmatic (how many more years
until my teenage son graduates?!?).
When not busy with all that, I am owned
by three Pembroke Welsh Corgis who
require not only feeding and walking
and adoration, but also must be
shuttled to obedience classes and
tracking practice and dog shows. I
collect Barbie dolls, old dictionaries,
Corgi paraphernalia, and the books of
my favorite authors.
My reading tastes cover romance, light
mystery, and fantasy books. I
definitely prefer contemporary
settings, although I read a few
historicals -- and future-set
fantasies. I love paranormal romances
(vampires! werewolves!), romantic
suspense, romantic comedy, and
romantica/light erotica. I prefer
mature, experienced heroines; usually
don't care for tortured heroes or
very 'dark' books; can't stand baby
books; and am burned out on time
travels. The only series books I read
regularly are SIMs, Blazes, and some
Temptations. I make exceptions if a
favorite author writes a book for
another line. My favorite publisher is
Ellora's Cave.
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Reviews
21 - 40 of 52
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Fantasy
by Christine Feehan, Emma Holly, Sabrina Jeffries, Elda Minger
"Romantic, sexy, and fun anthology."
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted March 25, 2002
I enjoy anthologies, but have a pretty consistent reaction
to them. In almost every four-story anthology I've read, I
find one story excellent, one very good, one mediocre or
boring, and one awful. FANTASY broke the trend -- I
thoroughly enjoyed all the stories in it. They are all
romantic Read more...
Single White Vampire Seeks Same
by Editor: Martin Greenberg, Editor Britiany Koren
"Personals ads with a twist, from famous names in fantasy literature"
Posted January 23, 2002
This anthology is classified as Fantasy, but it has been
placed on my Romance bookshelves because the stories are
about the search for love or companionship. The unifying
theme of the book is that each tale starts with an ad in
the Personals columns. The authors of the twelve shorts Read more...
Moment Of Truth
by Christiane Heggan
"Political suspense in the corridors of influence and power"
Posted February 3, 2002
Kate Logan's life is far from perfect at the moment: she's
got job problems, money problems, and single-parent
headaches. She left the Washington D.C. law firm where she
was employed and set up her own criminal law practice, but
business is slow and income low, especially since she takes
on Read more...
Top Dogs: Making It To Westminster
by Deborah Wood
"The world of the dog fancy -- puppyhood to top winner."
Posted March 29, 2002
This entertaining book illuminates the dog show world by
tracking the seven dogs that made it into the Best In Show
ring at Westminster 2001. Ms. Wood covers these dogs from
the time they are picked out of their litters as show
prospects, through campaigning at show, on to the Read more...
How To Be the Leader of the Pack
by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.
"Most useful dog training book in a long time."
Posted August 20, 2002
Author Patricia McConnell's doctorate is in Zoology; her
field of expertise is human/animal relationships. She is an
expert on dog behavior and communication between humans and
dogs.
This little 16-page booklet is the most useful dog training
book I have read in a long time. It is full of common sense Read more...
Promotions for Paupers
by Karen L. Syed
"Tips for authors to promote themselves and their books."
Posted September 19, 2002
Karen Syed owns a bookstore in Texas, is an editor for
Echelon Press, and has published several romance novels
under the name Alexis Hart. This booklet gives new and
midlist writers lots of tips on promoting themselves and
their books at very little cost. The examples the author
provides are Read more...
Fat Chance
by Terry Campbell
"Secret goings-on and romance at the fat farm!"
Posted February 3, 2002
Lindsey Michaels is a slightly overweight (more like just
well-rounded in a womanly way) paralegal whose wimpy lawyer
boyfriend has talked her into helping him expose a weight-
loss scam. Kenny, the lawyer, thinks uncovering the scam
will be his ticket to local political office. Lindsey is
willing to help, but Read more...
Diamond In The Ruff
by Emily Carmichael
"Cupid in Canine Costume!"
Posted November 9, 2001
This is the sequel to Finding Mr. Right, in which we met
Lydia, a gorgeous woman who had been reincarnated as a
Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Miss Piggy. She was sent back to
Earth to help her old friend Amy find true love. In this
book, Lydia/Piggy turns her matchmaking Read more...
Heat Waves
by Janelle Denison
"The edges of the pages are singed!"
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted October 4, 2001
Erica McCree hosts a very popular late-night radio talk
show about any and all aspects of sex. Ian Carlisle,
successful CEO of an investment firm, is a frequent caller
and his contributions to the discussions generate a lot of
on-air sizzle between him and Erica. In fact, his phone
calls Read more...
All Through the Night
by Thea Devine, Suzanne Forster, Lori Foster, Shannon McKenna
"Not the best from any of these authors."
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted January 6, 2002
The subtitle "Tales of Erotic Romance" is a bit misleading.
Although the level of sensuality varies in the four
stories, they aren't any hotter than one can find in many a
Harlequin Temptation or Blaze. Straight, monogamous sex;
nothing steamy enough that I would label it "erotic".
"Satisfy Me" by Lori Read more...
Midnight Fantasies
by Stephanie Bond, Kimberly Raye, Vicki Lewis Thompson
"Fun and sexy fantasy and role-playing!"
Posted July 4, 2001
Three novellas, kicking off the new Harlequin Blaze line.
Sensuality Guide: Fantasy and role playing
"Mystery Lover" by Vicki Lewis Thompson
BJ has been in love with Jonas her whole life, but he
treats her like a sister -- after all, they grew up
together on the Arizona ranch where her dad Read more...
Hot And Bothered
by Laura Bradley, Gayle Callen, Lori Foster, Victoria Marquez
"Four novellas."
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted July 28, 2001
Four novellas: three contemporaries and one historical.
'Luring Lucy' by Lori Foster
Four years ago, Lucy caught her husband in bed with another
woman; the marriage hadn't been good for a while, and that
was the final straw. Officially though, she is a widow--her
husband died in a car accident before the Read more...
Mr. Perfect
by Linda Howard
"Wish List for a Perfect Man"
Posted September 3, 2001
Linda Howard's new romantic suspense, MR. PERFECT,
arrived in the morning, I started it in the
afternoon, and I finished it that night. Go buy this book!
The premise is that four friends who work together make up
one of those "wish lists" for their perfect man. They are Read more...
Puppy Kisses are Good for the Soul
by Howard Weinstein
"Excellent tips for all new (and not so new) dog owners."
Posted January 25, 2002
This is actually two books in one cover. Part I is The
Amazing Life and Times of Mail Order Annie, anecdotes
about the author's life with his Pembroke Welsh Corgi. He
covers looking for a puppy through dealing with Annie's
death at age 15. The story is studded with excellent Read more...
The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting
by Heather Pringle
"Intriguing and fascinating study of ancient people."
Posted June 6, 2002
Heather Pringle, the author of this intriguing book, is a
science journalist; she writes articles on archaeology and
ancient cultures for a number of popular science magazines.
She started researching an article on mummies, became
fascinated by the topic, and traveled all over the world
interviewing experts and researchers and Read more...
Secrets
by Elaine Hopper
"Wacky soap opera of a book"
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted March 5, 2003
Think of all the wackiest things that go on in a soap opera
TV show. Be sure to include: lovers old and new,
illegitimate children, secret identities and mistaken
identities, body doubles, possible incest, jail time,
jealous rivals, flirtatious coworkers, obsessive fans,
conniving matchmakers, improbable coincidences, a talking
parrot, fast Read more...
Something About Cecily
by Karen Kendall
"Amusing, whimsical, and entertaining contemporary romance"
Posted February 2, 2002
This is a amusing, whimsical, and entertaining story; I
recommend this for anyone who likes sizzling and humorous
contemporary romances. It had, perhaps, a few rough spots
in the wonderfully descriptive writing style, but was much,
much better than I normally expect from a debut novel. The
characters are lively Read more...
It's a Bunny-Eat-Bunny World
by Olga Litowinsky
"A must-read for aspiring authors."
Posted August 7, 2002
Have you always wanted to write children's books? If so,
you MUST read this book. It will tell you everything you
need to know about the children's book publishing industry
and how it works, even a lot of excellent advice on how to
write a children's book. Ms. Litowinsky discusses Read more...
Cowboy In My Pocket
by Kate Douglas
"A gentle parody of cowboy romances"
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted April 8, 2002
Michelle Garrison is a prolific writer of category
romances, but her last few books have been flops -- her
writing has become too stale, all her characters are alike.
Her editor asks her to write a cowboy story, the latest
fad in romances, figuring the book can't fail. Well, it Read more...
The Empress' New Clothes
by Jaid Black
"Fun, interesting, wild sex on another planet in another dimension"
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted July 1, 2001
From the first page of the book: 'Warning: The following
material contains strong sexual content meant for mature
readers. [It] has been rated NC-17, erotic . . .' They're
not kidding, gentle reader. If you are not interested in an
off-the-charts level of sizzle/sex/erotic
writing/sensuality, whatever you want to Read more...
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