Marianne
Stephens
ROMANTIC FICTION NEWS AND REVIEWS PAGE
NEWS
BLOGS/INTERVIEWS: MAY
Released in print: Anything You Can Do with new cover! Visit Breathless Press or Amazon/Barnes&Noble
1 May: "Interview of Freelance Editor Diana J. Reese" at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
12 May: "Memories: Ours and Our Characters" at: http://alldayallnightwritingdivas.blogspot.com
25-27 May: I'll be at ConQuestKC (SciFi) convention with other paranormal romance authors in Kansas City!
Visit http://www.conquestkc.org for more information!
Where to Find Marianne Stephens and Her Books:
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AuthorMarianneS
Nonfiction Book: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/marianneoks
ELLORA'S CAVE (April Ash)
ELLORA'S CAVE: BLUSH
Nonfiction Book:
LULU.COM Marianne at RT2012
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ROMANCE BOOKS R US:
New "ROMANCE BOOKS R US" Website!
for author, publisher, cover model, romance industry information!
(Advertising pages available - see website)
Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
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VISIT OUR REVISED BLOG: All Day, All Night Writng Divas
The "Mariannes" and Friends of Other Romance/Genre Writing
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KINDLEGRAPH!
Want my autograph/personalized digital inscription? Now you can get one through Kindlegraph! You must have a TWITTER account for this to work but you don't have to have a Kindle version of any of my books!
All my books are available, and all you need do is request a Kindlegraph for any/all of my
books! For information, go to: http://kindlegraph.com/books
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May 2012: print version
"ANYTHING YOU CAN DO"
from Breathless Press
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REVIEWS
ANYTHING YOU CAN DO
"I have to say that this was a fabulous story from start to finish. Ms. Stephens wrote an engrossing storyline that makes her readers eager to turn the page and find out what will happen next with Allison and Jeff."
"These characters were well rounded individuals with plenty of spunk and sexiness. I found myself having a crush on Jeff and I really wanted something to spark between him and Allison. This author is an extremely talented writer and she knows how to entertain her readers right to the very last paragraph. This is a story that I would highly recommend to any reader and I assure you that you’ll enjoy it as much as I did! Great work, Ms. Stephens!"-- 5 STARS, reviewed by Diana Coyle, Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick.
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"Loved, loved, loved the hero in this book. He's just Alpha enough to be attractive, but not so Alpha that he can't be realisitcally tamed. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of the book, the tension throughout the beginning of the plot, and the eventual relationship that ensues. I found Marianne Stephens' writieng to be engaging and her plottting to be choherent and smooth."
"I theought the premise was cute, and the ending fulfilling. If you enjoy contemporary romances with a little steam to them, I think you will enjoy this book very much."-- reviewed by Rebecca, The Pen & Muse.
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"Ms. Stephens penned a very sweet yet spicy love story. I found myself laughing out loud or just smiling at the shared intimacy between Jeff and Allison. Jeff is such a gentleman. So, his slightly bossy assistant and nosey mother keep Allison and Jeff on track for their HEA when they might have let love get away. To quote Taylor Swift, "It's a love story, baby just say Yes."-- 4 BOOKS, SPICY, reviewed by Honeysuckle, Long and Short Reviews.
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SECOND SIGHT DATING
"Second Sight Dating was one of the best reads I have read in a while... I love the way this author wrote Serena Xavier's character, the way she has such a strong and special gift...This romance story will pull at your heartstrings, and just make you feel all warm inside."-- 5 ROSES, reviewed by Nicole, My Book Cravings.
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"There were some very funny scenes..."
"I truly liked the "double dates" that Serena and Dan embarked on. Set in a variety of unusual settings, the details were hilarious! This was an entertaining and easy-to-read story."-- reviewed by Rista Tompkins, The Romance Readers Connection.
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"SECOND SIGHT DATING has good dialogue, interesting characters getting entangled in some unusual situations, and is a fun, light-hearted story."-- reviewed by Marilyn Heyman, Romance Reviews Today.
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"The author, Marianne Stephens, takes on matchmaking with a twist. I found the book to be a well-written, fun love story that can be read in a few hours."
"If you enjoy a good love story, with quirky twists, then this story is for you. It is a great short story that is a quick read. SECOND SIGHT DATING will definitely make singles rethink the whole match dating that has become so popular."-- reviewed by Cherie Fisher, Reader Views.
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"Second Sight Dating by Marianne Stephens is a funny, comedy of errors type of story. From the moment Dan walks into Serena's office strange things happen. The clash between the nature of Serena's business and her desire to be taken seriously leads to some funny situations. Dan's character also doesn't believe in psychics so he arrives believing Serena must be selling something else on the side and this also leads to some misinterpretations in their encounters. I was thoroughly entertained and chuckled throughout the whole book. This story is a great, lighthearted, entertaining, romp through the pitfalls of dating!"-- 4 ANGELS, reviewed by Stephanie B., Fallen Angel Reviews.
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"Second Sight Dating is a wonderfully entertaining romantic story full of comedy."
"Second Sight Dating also has all the elements for a hot and steamy read...You just can't help yourself from getting caught up in this hilarious modern day romance....If you enjoy contemporary romance books that are full of heat and mystery, this is the book for you. With all the dealings and adventure and the subterfuge, you will be kept on your toes until the very end."-- 4 HEARTS, reviewed by Jacquelyn R. Ward, The Romance Studio.
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STREET OF DREAMS
"In 2039, Detective Eileen "Ice Queen" Murphy is one of the few females in the Kansas City Law Force trying to prove she's more than just a pretty face. Past hurts and putting up with the "Good Old Boys" in the force keeps her from having any relationships on the force, which means hiding her overwhelming attraction to Nick Olson."
"Detective Nick Olson, a controlling Apha male, is partnered with Eileen on a mission to jump back to 1965 before history can be changed. Unlucky in love, he must fight the attraction he has for Eileen to protect his heart."
"Entertaining and well worth the read."--"blurbed" by Marge. For the entire "blurb" on Barbara Vey's blog, visit:
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"Street of Dreams is a nice story full of suspense, danger, and love. It blended nicely two different eras in time. You totally believed that these characters from the future time traveled. The author did a great job in keeping with the idea that they had to hide the fact they were from the future. The characters of Nick and Eileen were wonderfully written, and their passion fro each other leaped off the pages at you. There was also a good mix of suspense and danger thrown into the mix. I really enjoyed reading this story."-- 4 CUPS, reviewed by LeeAnn, Coffee Time Romance.
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"I really enjoyed Street of Dreams by Marianne Stephens. I like this type of time travel novel where the time travel is deliberate and a result of science instead of an accident. Who knows what our future holds, maybe we really will see this type of time travel. Ms. Stephens does an excellent job of setting up the situation where the criminal tries to evade capture by taking advantage of the scientific achievements that allow him to flee to the past. I could image this type of world in the future. I’m also glad she made her police characters smart, determined, and human as they deal with the issues of the time difference and figuring out what the criminal has planned to stop him. The relationship between Nick and Eileen is one big battle of stubbornness, misunderstandings, and misrepresentation from other people. A couple of times, I just wanted to knock their thick skulls together. Come on Nick and Eileen, stop listening to other people and think for yourselves if you want to follow through on your attraction! If you love the conflicts inherent in time travel, a suspenseful story, and want a fun romance; this is a book you will enjoy."-- 5 ANGELS, reviewed by Stephanie B, Fallen Angel Reviews.
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"Stephens takes readers on a wild ride by sending two police detectives back in time..."
"The details are well thought out, and the main characters are interesting, which makes this a compelling romantic voyage."-- 4 STARS, HOT, reviewed by Faith V. Smith, Romantic Times Bookreviews Magazine.
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GONE TO THE DOGS
"Katie O'Hara's life was going to the dogs."
"...sent from New York to promote a drink called Whoopsie at Yipsey Dipsey in Kansas. Suddenly she felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz!"
"Marianne Stephens tells a delightful and funny story that kept me laughing throughout the book! Gone to the Dogs is a hysterical spoof of my favorite show. Dorothy had nothing on Katie as Katie's bad karma reared its head..."
"Troubles and mishaps abound as someone does not want the soft drink to succeed and she finds herself the target of danger, but is determined to get Yipsey Dipsey and Whoopsie back in the blue, and return to New York a success. Readers will fall in love with this book."-- 4 1/2 KISSES, reviewed by Alisha, Two Lips Reviews.
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"Gone to the Dogs is hilarious. What more could possibly go wrong for this woman?"
"Gone to the Dogs by Marianne Stephens is a mixture of mystery and comedy. Her characters work well together...will make a great summer read, lying next to the pool. Fans of romance will not want to miss Gone to the Dogs."-- 4 STARS, reviewed by Anne Boling, ReviewYourBook.com.
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"Marianne Stephens creates a fabulously comical yet suspenseful tale. The characters are strong and the plot is easy to read. Events in the book keep your gears turning and the climax is a surprise. Stephens gets a gold star for Gone to the Dogs!"-- reviewed by Nicole, Manic Readers.
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"GONE TO THE DOGS is a funny, laugh out loud book. Marianne Stephens brings us warm, nutty characters, including a dog with an attitude. The story is part humor and part mystery and this book is a quick easy read, that will leave you in stitches."-- reviewed by Gloria Gehres, The Romance Readers Connection.
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"Gone to the Dogs by Marianne Stephens is a hilarious romantic suspense. Bad karma seems to have it in for Katie and with so many things going wrong at the same time you can't help but laugh at the silly situations she faces. I really enjoyed Katie's spirit, independent nature, and stubborn refusal to give in. When you figure out which of the men has Katie's interest, you will be rooting for him too. Then there is the suspense aspect of the story, someone is trying to sabotage Katie's job and harm her. Incidents keep happening ever few pages and the attempts to harm Katie escalate as the story continues. Ms. Stephens does a good job building to suspense all the way to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the twist at the end of the story! If you want humor with your romantic suspense, you'll enjoy this book!"-- 5 ANGELS, reviewed by Stephanie B., Fallen Angel Reviews.
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"Suspenseful is the best word to describe Gone to the Dogs. The suspense was trying to figure out who Katie can or should not trust and also if she and Mike would stop flirting and get down to acknowledging their lust for each other. Comical is another word to describe this book. You know the minute you dress your worst is the day that you are seen and noticed by everyone. Katie was such a real character. She knew she was gaining weight but she always said she would start her diet tomorrow. How many times have you thought that? I loved Mike because he looked beyond Katie's mismatched dressing or lack thereof. He knew he wanted her and he decided he could wait until she was ready for him. The secondary characters were very well developed and the romances they developed made this book a complete joy to read. Ms. Stephens has written a winner."-- B+, reviewed by Shira, Simply Romance Reviews.
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"Oh boy, this was a comedy true and true. Just reading about poor Katie trying to work in a place called Yipsey was hilarious. Then you have Mike who is all man just trying to protect his woman was so sweet. Each time they were near they fooled around argued or just passed each other. This was a great read..." --4 HEARTS, reviewed by Melinda, Night Owl Romance.
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"Unconventional, Gone to the Dogs is in a class of its own. Stephens skillfully hones a witty and quirky imagination. This is a romance novel with ambitious ingredients of suspense, mystery, and comedy blending well. The characters are wonderfully developed and very individual, each demonstrating unique idiosyncrasies."
"The novel is an enchanting love story and surprising developments made it an exceptional one to read."-- 5 CUPS, reviewed by Delores, Coffee Time Romance.
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"The subterfuge that went along with this story must have taken a while for the author to put together, but it all fits together--from being pushed into the dip, to "dognapping". Ms Stephens does a great job making the story fit, and throwing in a lot of romance that will make you laugh and smile. Additionally, you will see how Katie really figures out where her strength and desires live. Kudos to a fun story, Ms. Stephens. I thoroughly enjoyed Gone to the Dogs and think you will also.-- reviewed by Tanya, Joyfully Reviewed.
Copyright © 2011 Marianne Stephens
Images: Bigstock.com
Romance For All Seasons
