http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/bg-p/HearttoHeart Heart to Heart articles Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:07:38 GMT HearttoHeart 2010-02-09T17:07:38Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Ring-Around-the-Collar/ba-p/474212 Like many women, I don't decline for no good reason a pretty little bauble like a strand of pearls. And we romance readers appreciate the symbolism attached to magnificent gifts of jewels given by wealthy men to heroines in historical romance. But are the expectations in the exchange of gem gifts any different in romances than in real life? Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:57:45 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Ring-Around-the-Collar/ba-p/474212 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-02-09T03:57:45Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Scents-amp-Sensibility-and-Bacon/ba-p/471310 This morning, my son hugged me and said, ‘You smell so good, you rival the aroma of bacon.” High praise, since guys across America worship the meat and can wax poetic over the scent of it frying. That same kind of "aroma recall" affects us when we read, and the intimacy of how it affects us during the experience is very cool to explore. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:07:12 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Scents-amp-Sensibility-and-Bacon/ba-p/471310 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-02-08T17:07:12Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Happily-Ever-Afterlife/ba-p/469358 As a sane, self-sufficient, contemporary professional women, you may find it tricky to explain to friends and colleagues why the idea of a guy trailing you 'cause he's convinced he's your life mate to guard -- and maybe, um, mark -- is flippin' romantic. Don't forget to give 'em all the important deets. Like he's part wolf. And he's the star of Kresley Cole's much-anticipated, genuinely fun and entirely addictive "Pleasure of a Dark Prince." Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:55:15 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Happily-Ever-Afterlife/ba-p/469358 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-02-05T22:55:15Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/468237 Madeline Hunter, author of one my favorite books of 2009, The Sins of Lord Easterbrook, visits Romantic Reads this week to chat about her new quartet of books and the sustaining power of the "forced marriage" premise. Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:52:46 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/468237 Melanie_Murray 2010-02-02T16:52:46Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Don-t-Hate-Her-Because-She-s-Beautiful/ba-p/467100 There’s a trend in romance toward heroines who are imperfect, and who are more “real life” sized. While that’s refreshing, many readers still dig a gorgeous, seemingly “perfect” heroine. But do we lack self-esteem if we dream of being in her pretty place as we read? Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:21:29 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Don-t-Hate-Her-Because-She-s-Beautiful/ba-p/467100 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-02-01T19:21:29Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/From-Schmear-to-Modernity/ba-p/464742 In the same way some folks have flashbacks when assailed by certain scents or sounds, sometimes I’m reminded how much I enjoyed a particular section of a beloved novel by the junk-food smudges on a page or cheez-puff crumbles in the crease. But some folks never eat while reading, especially if they've got e-devices. Where do you stand on the binge-read nosh dilemma? Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:39:12 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/From-Schmear-to-Modernity/ba-p/464742 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-02-04T15:39:12Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Thank-You-Please-Come-Again/ba-p/463219 Playful tweets between friends yesterday turned into a choppy slice of erotic twitterature. Classic sensual romance scenarios were riffed on with delicious, humorous and purposely-poorly-penned purple prose. But did our funfest give folks a really bad impression of erotic romance? Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:54:27 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Thank-You-Please-Come-Again/ba-p/463219 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-27T16:54:27Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/462367 It's our inaugural Debut Week at Romantic Reads! We've got authors Courtney Milan and Kaki Warner talking their new books and what it's like to be a first-time author. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:48:51 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/462367 Melanie_Murray 2010-01-26T18:48:51Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Romance-Fra-Diavolo/ba-p/461603 IMHO, there’s no sex so mind-blowing that it’s worth having to put up with an ill-mannered child. Yet if the guy cooking up the lovin’ were some hottie chef a la that naked one on TV, a practical girl might nanny his bratty progeny in return for some fringed bennies. If it happened in a romance, it’d be Louisa Edwards’ exceptional “On the Steamy Side,” and it’ll probably show up on everybody’s Best of 2010 lists. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:23:32 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Romance-Fra-Diavolo/ba-p/461603 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-26T23:23:32Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/American-Ing%C3%A9nueity/ba-p/459479 I’ve come up with the only plausible reason we American chicks so adore tales of the lives, lusts and loves of those precocious Peers of the Realm: Spanking. Oh, not all that Monty Pythonesque, slap-me-a-tickle-while-I wear-my-wife’s-knickers foolishness. More like the stuff that brought about the British Invasions -- and a new heroine inspired by everything good and sexy about...American chicks! Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:53:27 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/American-Ing%C3%A9nueity/ba-p/459479 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-22T18:53:27Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/10-4-10-Top-o-the-New-Year-Reads/ba-p/458043 What’s a little more post-holiday debt among friends? For while spring’s not nearly in the air, still a romance reader’s fancy turns to thoughts of fresh happily ever afters. So for your first-quarter-and-then-some, must-read reading pleasure, I offer you this list of Top Ten Reads for the Top of the New Year. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:06:49 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/10-4-10-Top-o-the-New-Year-Reads/ba-p/458043 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-21T03:06:49Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/457035 Forced into a bad marriage by your own folly, shipped off to India, and then confronted with an enigmatic soldier who may or may not be a spy...This is Penelope Deveraux Staines's dilemma in Lauren Willig's latest Pink Carnation installment, The Betrayal of the Blood Lily. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:49:44 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/457035 Melanie_Murray 2010-01-19T14:49:44Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Stahrving-for-Heroes/ba-p/456244 There's more than one way to enjoy a romance hero. My much needed, comfort-read binge of a boxed-set of J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood novels has me thinking of a way that a reader turned me on to a while ago. Once you learn the secret, it'll have you hungry for more hero than you may be able to handle. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:50:03 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Stahrving-for-Heroes/ba-p/456244 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-19T13:50:03Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Reading-the-Story-of-Haiti/ba-p/453947 I’ve wondered whether to a Haitian, the loss of a manuscript or collection of novels or children’s primers means anything next to losing one’s home, kids, lover or parents. Yet when I saw a photo this morning of a young girl reading amidst the rubble, it occurred to me that I’m probably naïve in assuming a reader wouldn’t think about escaping into a book during the most dramatic, horrific experience of her life. Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:24:14 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Reading-the-Story-of-Haiti/ba-p/453947 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-15T17:24:14Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Hold-On-to-Reality/ba-p/452286 Are romance readers are out of touch w/reality? Three of Steph Tyler's fans say they've dated the hero of her new book. Time to call the Dr.? Or to call Steph for her hero's phone and addy? Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:34:10 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Hold-On-to-Reality/ba-p/452286 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-13T20:34:10Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/451212 Two words will describe the fun we're having at Romantic Reads this week: Julie. Garwood. Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:53:41 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/451212 Melanie_Murray 2010-01-12T15:53:41Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/A-Little-Dirt-ll-Do-Ya/ba-p/450420 Very Naughty Good Girl + Very Good Bad Boy face off in Victoria Dahl’s hard-core hot 'n satisfying “Lead Me On!” Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:49:00 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/A-Little-Dirt-ll-Do-Ya/ba-p/450420 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-11T18:49:00Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Bi-Bi-Mr-Darcy-Hullo-Pride-Prejudice/ba-p/448152 Empathetic, brilliant riff is evocative of Austen icon. Just, w/no zombies. And one or two of your forbidden lit-class fantasies. Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:51:01 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/Bi-Bi-Mr-Darcy-Hullo-Pride-Prejudice/ba-p/448152 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-11T14:51:01Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/He-s-Just-That-Hot-Into-You/ba-p/446073 Laura Kinsale’s “Lessons in French” is just waiting to be devoured and beloved! Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:35:15 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/He-s-Just-That-Hot-Into-You/ba-p/446073 Michelle_Buonfiglio 2010-01-06T19:35:15Z http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/445233 Romantic Reads brings in the New Year with a batch of January Features that has a little something for everyone: suspense, westerns, spies, and British fortune-tellers. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:59:56 GMT http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Heart-to-Heart/ROMANTIC-READS-This-Week/ba-p/445233 Melanie_Murray 2010-01-05T20:59:56Z