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Thursday, February 28, 2008:
Are we compatible??? I'm reading a very good story by Nicole Jordan, "Touch Me With Fire", which was released in 1993, and the heroine, Blaise, is all of 18 years of age. Now I know, back in the day, in this case, 1813, it was very typical for ladies of even a younger age to be married with children, and I've read many a romantic historical with similarly aged heroines, but this time around, I keep focusing on her because of it. Blaise's actions are in line with that of an 18-year-old who's been somewhat spoiled by her father and yet also lead a bit of a sheltered life after he passed away. She doesn't care for Englishmen at all, but of course, that is exactly who she ends up attracting: an Englishman, one who's been to war, and has been both physically and emotionally scarred. He's at least 10 years older than her, and has plenty 'o baggage to deal with as it is, much less having to put up with the complication of a troublesome hellion who sets his blood on fire. Now let's forget historical accuracy for a moment. Picture that young woman as the heroine. Imagine her catching the eye of the hero, and reacting to the circumstances she finds herself in. Maybe she runs off. Or she battles with the hero. She throws a tantrum and rather than deals with the reality she's facing, she rebels. Totally understandable for a woman of her age and situation, and rather easily accepted in a historical romance. I don't much blink an eye because it sounds fitting to that time period. Rather immature, but I can deal. Now this age thing gets me thinking of some of the contemporary stories I've read in the last year, where we have a 22-year-old heroine and a 30-year-old hero. Maybe she's an artist, or an admin assistant. A cop. A waitress. A taxi driver. She catches the eye of the hero, the epitome of the kind of man we all fantasize about. (Gasp! This sweet young thing has stolen our man!) Anyway, 15 years ago I had no problem reading about this kind of heroine, because she was my age, and it was rather sexy and exciting to have an older hero, especially if you consider how girls mature faster than boys. If the hero was 22, well, back then it might not have bothered me too much, but now, oh yeah, it definitely would. I'd feel like I was reading a teen drama, and that just doesn't appeal to me in an adult story. And while I'm at it, here's another issue: the level of sexual experience a heroine has. Nowadays, a 22-year-old has had their fair share of relationships, and not all of them were chaste and pure. And a 35-year-old woman surely can have, and should have, a satisfying sex life before hooking up with our lusty, hot hero. Why should the guys have all the fun? Women should definitely be allowed to experiment and enjoy themselves, so reading about a heroine who doesn't have orgasms with a man until she meets Mr. Wonderful is rather far-fetched and honestly, annoying. (I will say that I am still hung up on historical heroines being a little more pristine than her contemporary peers. My little hang-up that I'm trying to get past, as more and more historicals showcase experienced ladies). So tell me what you think: how do you feel about stories that feature really young heroines? Does it pull you from the story, or can you accept a 22-year-old in that role? Does it make a difference if it's a historical or contemporary, or can you suspend belief as long as the story is believable? Do you feel her sexual experience should reflect her age, or doesn't it matter to you? I have to wonder if these are the reasons some readers go through slumps, or feel they cannot relate to the heroine - because she's just not written to reflect the modern sensibilities of women today. A lot of our attention is focused on the hero, but I feel an equal amount should be about the heroine as well. I remember liking Whitney and Skye O'Malley and Sara Fielding just as much as I did Clayton and Niall (or Adam or...), and Derek Craven. Of course I read them all years and years ago, but the point is, the heroine stood out just as much as the hero because there was something significant about her, maybe she's someone I could relate to in the smallest way, and it was a connection that made sense to me. A factor that made her memorable not just to me, but to many other readers as well. What do you think? (Disclaimer: Believe it or not, I had a point to this post, but somehow it got lost in the rambling. Feel free to post any thoughts you have on heroines). Labels: heroes, heroines
posted by Stacy~ at 2/28/2008 05:17:00 AM
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008:
What did you want to be...
...when you grew up? I saw a quote this morning that made me think about that for a minute, especially what I wanted to be when I grew up. I think as a young girl, I wanted to be Barbie. Sure, go ahead and laugh, but as the oldest with two younger brothers, my mom kept my hair short and had me in jeans and t-shirts, which I loved, but did nothing for my feminine appeal. I'd hear quite often from adults talking to my parents: "Oh, are these your three boys?" Who you calling a boy, buster?!?!?! (Some things you never get over, even thirty years older. Anyway, Barbie had the pretty clothes and the gorgeous hair (which sometimes got chopped off in a jealous rage) and a cool car. Forget Ken, Barbie didn't need him. She had it goin' on. Okay, she's not known for her intelligence, and if she were a real person, she'd be so top-heavy she'd keel over. But everyone should have a dream, right? Later, in junior high, I decided that instead of all the other girls, who wanted to be psychologists, I was going to be an interior decorator. Don't ask me why, because I have no taste, cannot coordinate color and fabric and design to save my life. But it sounded cool and fun and different than what all my friends wanted, and I liked that. A lot. At some point, probably because I did a small part I played when I was in the 6th grade, I dreamed of being an actress. Though I come across as pretty reserved and shy (some interpret this as cold bitch), I do have a bit of the drama queen flair in me that rages to come out from time to time. But the reality of it seems too grueling and uncertain. I need money. And of course, the one dream that persists even today, is to be a writer. Over the years, I've written incredibly far-fetched stories, way too much horrendously bad, angsty poetry filled with death and violence, and some incredibly sappy teen romance (also filled with death and violence. Those teen years are tough times). I even tried my hand at some naughty stories that have me blushing in mortification as to what I wrote. And no, those will never be surfacing up on the internet anytime soon. Destroyed all of 'em, I did. Some art is not worth saving. What did you imagine being when you grew up? What do you do today, and how is it the same, or different, than what you dreamed about? Labels: dreams, me
posted by Stacy~ at 2/26/2008 05:13:00 AM
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Monday, February 25, 2008:
Richard in "The Vicar of Dibley"
I had this in my Netflix, and watched both parts over the weekend: The Holy Wholly Happy Ending (2006) which is comprised of "The Handsome Stranger" and "The Vicar in White". Now I've never been much of a fan of British humor (maybe it's over my head), but I must say I loved this 2-part series finale, especially the fantasy montage where Geraldine (Dawn French) sings "It Shoulda Been Me". OMG, hilarious! I'm almost tempted to watch all the seasons, but I think there are about 10 of them, so maybe not. However I do have a new appreciation for this type of comedy. So while I might have originally watched it because of Richard, he was not the only highlight. Ever been pleasantly surprised by a movie/t.v. show you thought you wouldn't like? Labels: BBC, Richard Armitage
posted by Stacy~ at 2/25/2008 05:34:00 AM
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Sunday, February 24, 2008:
"Hard to Handle" by Lori Foster (2008) - review
stepback cover for "Hard to Handle" Extreme fighter Harley Handleman has an outlook on life as hard as his muscular body. Fate has dealt him a sucker punch - and a low blow, at that. First, there were his failed attempts at the title belt. Then, Harley's mother lost her fight with breast cancer, leaving him with no family but his trainer, Uncle Satch.
Taking a break in the mountains seems like a good idea. But his vacation isn't nearly as restful as he expected - thanks to his landlady, Anastasia Bradley. Their verbal sparring keeps him on his toes, and the sensual sparks that fly between then would knock out a lesser man. The last thing Harley wants is more complications in his life, so he's determined to keep his distance from the alluring Stasia. But someone else has also noticed Stasia - someone who is putting her life in danger. To protect Stasia, Harley must stay close, but his growing feelings for her may be a bit hard to handle....
Anyone who's ever read this blog on a regular basis knows that Lori Foster is an auto-buy author for me. I just love her strong, capable heroes and her spirited, independent heroines, and the sometimes unusual but loving families she creates in her stories. I'm not really a fan of the UFC and all the wrestling, boxing, fighting stuff, but I do love the SBC world she's built, and the discipline, respect, friendship, and responsibility these men all have in spades. Harley Handleman is no different, yet he is a more complex hero than what we've usually seen fighting in the SBC before. Because of several unexpected things that have happened in his life, Harley is determined to control whatever aspect of his life he can, and that includes sex. He doesn't believe in completely abstaining when he is in training, but he does feel the need to control what happens with his partner in the bedroom. And he's all about temporary - no fuss, no muss. Most of the women Harley comes into contact with have absolutely no problem with this, and walk away happy and satisfied. But now Harley is noticing his landlady in a way he can't deny anymore, yet he knows Anastasia Bradley is not the temporary kind, so he tries to keep his distrance. But someone is after her, and being the protective man he is, Harley is unwilling to let her handle things on her own. After one rather intimate night together, Harley is determined more than ever to stay away from her, and after he leaves Echo Lake, he really doesn't expect to see her again anyway. Stasia is a life coach, someone who works with clients and evaluates their goals, their lifestyles, their personalities to try to help them achieve what they set out to do and to be happier and more content. After getting to know Harley, she's convinced he needs some assistance to live a more fulfilling life, but of course he's not having it. Stasia accepts his decision, but feels that he could truly benefit from working with her. Naturally Fate has a way of bringing them back together, and the attraction between them is as explosive as ever, but Anastasia is not willing to let Harley control things in the bedroom; she's not going to be just another notch on his bedpost. I found Harley to be rather fascinating, very determined and set on his path to win the title while almost closing himself off from emotion. He hangs with the other guys, and lets his uncle call all the shots, but he tries to steer clear of any entanglements. He knows he's in trouble right away with Stasia as she's not the typical groupie, and therefore has no problem butting heads with him. She's pretty upfront with him right from the start, throwing him off with her blunt honesty, and that only attracts him more. She's also not shy about admitting she wants him, but only if he's willing to let go of his control, which of course he has a problem with. It takes a long time for them to finally fall into bed, but by that time, they are well on their way to falling in love. Stasia is such a likable heroine - pretty, honest, independent, confident - and way over her head when it comes to resisting Harley, who has always attracted her. She's had her own share of disappointments, but she knows she's good at what she does and she truly believes her work helps people achieve their full potential, and she feels she could do the same for Harley, if he would only take the chance and trust her. As always, I enjoyed re-visiting the SBC fighters and the women who love them. Much like her Visitation series, Lori's SBC books center around a close-knit group of friends and family who love what they do and take pride in it, and it's really fun to get a sneak peek into the UFC, which is a labor of love for Lori, who is a huge fan of the sport. Brief mention of the negativity of steroids is brought up, which is very relevant in today's sports news. Instead of drugs, it takes discipline, training, talent, and hard work to win a title. Harley's story definitely focuses on the positive aspects of UFC fighting, and how that can carry over into everyday life. Another job well done. However I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I was rather disappointed that musician Barber didn't get his own story! Especially after we got to know him so well as Dakota's good friend, I thought for sure he would have gotten his own book, and not have his HEA tacked onto Harley's. He has the charisma, attractiveness and charm to pull it off all on his own, and it would have been rather fun to see him suffer a little bit. Don't get me wrong: his was a nice story, but way too quick. Oh well, maybe he won't get off so easy after all..... Rating: **** out of ***** September 08 Berkley single title ISBN: 9780515145328
Gabrielle Cody has accepted her destiny as one of God’s warriors, charged to destroy evil. When surrounded by violence, she must be ready for anything, but Gaby wasn’t prepared to see Detective Luther Cross ever again. He’s the beacon of reality in her life, the one thing that makes her feel human, like a real woman.
But Gaby can’t get caught up with Luther now. She has work to do, this time protecting the street walkers. But Luther gives her purpose, something more than just working at God’s whim. Yet her life of retribution is far too dangerous even for Luther, and this time, it’s not just their hearts that won’t come out unscathed.
Can't wait!!! Labels: L L Foster, Lori Foster, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 2/24/2008 08:54:00 AM
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Friday, February 22, 2008:
With the nasty winter weather, I've been complaining even more than usual, and that can be a drag, so I decided to be a little more cheerful and talk about more positive things, and I kept thinking about what I do love about where I live: the midwest, or more specifically, Chicago ('burbs). Some of the great things about this city are:
Chicago pizza! Nothing like Gino's East deep dish -yum!
Oprah - she's had her not so stellar moments, but I give the woman credit for a lot of the positive things she does do, like her Angel Network and getting people to read
theatre. It may not be Broadway, but Chicago has quite a pool of talent
Lake Michigan and Navy Pier - it's a cool place to hang out in the summer - and I love the Taste of Chicago
Childrens Memorial Hospital and 101.9FM the mix for their annual radioathon
Woodfield Mall. Before Mall of America, it was rather well-known. Still a mall is just a mall...
O'Hare airport - I love hanging out there, have even worked there for a brief time
the Frank Sinatra song!
What are some of the things you love about where you live?
Labels: Chicago, home
posted by Stacy~ at 2/22/2008 05:30:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008:
I got tagged, so here is my response to 6 unimportant things about me.... I have this fascination for the Loch Ness monster, and one day I hope to visit Scotland and go to where the legend began. I think it's the fantasy of such a beast living and lurking in a murky loch that has me so intrigued. Sidenote: there is a mention of this mysterious creature in one of Diana Gabaldon's books which is kinda cool. I am a huge animal lover, and growing up, my family always had dogs. My last pet, Roscoe, was 1/2 collie, 1/2 husky, and he was just gorgeous. But also rather reckless; when I was 14, he was killed by a bear. One of the most devastating things that ever happened to me, and I miss him so, so much, even now. There's nothing like the unconditional love of a pet, and my Roscoe got me through a lot of teenage drama. I loved him more than anything. During the 80's, I had posters of several actors and singers gracing my bedroom wall, but probably the two that stood out the most were Rob Lowe ("St Elmo's Fire", "Youngblood", "The Outsiders") and Jon Bon Jovi - the sexiest rocker to ever feature in my adolescent daydreams. Both are still good-looking today, though my adoration has waned over time. I had my first crush when I was about four or five. His name was Scott, and my mom has a few pictures of us together, holding hands. I still remember that. I didn't like "Catcher in the Rye". I read it in the 10th grade and I was bored out of my mind. I've considered going back to read it because it's one of those books that really cool people seem to love, but I'm not cool so really, what's the point? I was never baptized. This bothered me a lot when I was a teen, especially since most of my friends were Catholic and talked about it a lot. I felt like such a pariah, but I've come to terms with it, and my relationship with God is more spiritual than religious. I am at peace with my faith.
Okay, done. Anyone else? No? Yeah, I think everyone's done it by now. Anyway, now that I'm back, I'm working on some stuff, and I have a really cool interview coming up that I can't wait to share. 2008 should be a fun year :) Labels: me
posted by Stacy~ at 2/20/2008 07:11:00 PM
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008:
...and it feels like I've been gone for months. It's amazing how quickly we (okay, I mean me) have gotten ourselves so completely attached to the internet. My most justifiable excuse is that it's freakin' COLD outside and I have nothing better to do. I've missed you guys, missed blog-hopping, missed oohing and aahing over Richard Armitage, but believe it or not, I have had a bit of a life while I've been away. It was a nice change of pace, being away from my laptop for awhile. Here are a few of the things I did: Read several books, including Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South", which was lovely, but I'll take the movie anyday. I also read my first Julia London books, a historical "desperate debutante" trilogy: "The Hazards of Hunting a Duke", "The Perils of Pursuing a Prince", and "The Dangers of Deceiving a Viscount", the last being my favorite. I enjoyed the series, though it was a bit light, and I felt that, especially in the first hook, the characters didn't really get to know each other too well, and there were moments of frustration because of some of the behavior. I can't say if I'll read any more of her books. Saw "Definitely, Maybe", with Ryan Reynolds. It was a cute movie. It was either that, or "Fool's Gold", which I had no desire to see. I was pleasantly surprised by "Definitely", thought the relationship between him and his on-screen daughter was wonderful and very natural, and it ended the way I wanted it to. Can't ask for more than that. Went to Benihana, which was packed. I've not eaten a lot of Japanese food, don't care for sushi, hate wasabi, yet watching it being cooked and seeing how much fun kids enjoyed it was a lot of fun. Not a place to dine if you want to be able to converse with your friends. Worked a boat show on Sunday, and marveled at how people spend their money. $57,000 was the asking price for one lovely watercraft, and I'm thinking I would rather have a nicer house, but then again, I am not rich, or even well off, so buying a boat is not a big priority in my life. Went computer shopping, agonized over Dell and Sony and HP and Gateway and finally decided that I am just looking for a basic, cheap model and went for a Toshiba as it suited my immediate requirements. Part of it was that instant gratification thing. Next time around, I will do more research on it. Having my old laptop crash on me had me distracted and not really prepared to spend a lot. But now I've set up a computer savings account (yeah I'm such a geek) so the next time around I'll hopefully be more ready.
Oh, for those of you who've posted about memes and the like, I am working on it. I'm trying to come up with 6 things about myself I've never mentioned and so far I've got 3, but I'm not completely sure I've never talked about them before. I am truly the most boring individual on the planet. Random question: has anyone read Samantha James' historicals? If so, what would you recommend? (If it's a series, please let me know). Labels: ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 2/19/2008 07:19:00 PM
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008:
Yep, my tempermental laptop is still giving me grief, so I plan on going out behind the house and putting him out of his misery - come on, any piece of machinery that's this much of a pain in the ass has to be male. So on Monday, Presidents' Day (and my day off) I plan on going to buy another one. I could order online, but I am all about instant gratification. Not a clue what to get, but then I never know these things. As long as it works. My co-worker Julie told me I should get the new super-thin laptop, which runs around $1700. Um, no. I am not paying to have something just cuz it'd easy to carry. But that does bring me to my question: What kind of computer/laptop do you have? What would you recommend, and why? Help a clueless non-techie out.... Right now I'm reading my first Julia London book, "The Hazards of Hunting a Duke", and I'm finding it quite enjoyable. I also have the other 2 books in the series. In other news, I'm hating winter, HATING it, wanting to move to Aruba or St. Thomas or Fiji and risk those tsunamis Jodi warned me about. Anything is better than all this insane winter weather. As Margaret Hale would say, "I have seen Hell, and it's white, snow-white". Truer words were never spoken. I finished watching "Robin Hood", season 1, and now I'm kinda sad about it. I loved those good lads: Will, Much, Alan, Jack, Robin, Little John. I didn't think I would like them as much as I did, but they wormed their outlaw personalities into my jaded and cynical heart. The sheriff was hilarious - odd, melodramatic, greedy. And of course I wanted to offer comfort to the misunderstood but very fine Sir Guy, but who doesn't? Waiting anxiously for season 2. Ta ta for now...hope to be back soon.... Labels: ramblings
posted by Stacy~ at 2/13/2008 05:51:00 AM
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Monday, February 11, 2008:
"Sugar Daddy" by Lisa Kleypas - review
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1 edition (March 6, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0312351623
ISBN-13: 978-0312351625 SHE'S FROM THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS Liberty Jones has dreams and determination that will take her far away from Welcome, Texas -- if she can keep her wild heart from ruling her mind. Hardy Cates sees Liberty as completely off-limits. His own ambitions are bigger than Welcome, and Liberty Jones is a complication he doesn't need. But something magical and potent draws them to each other, in a dangerous attraction that is stronger than both of them.
HE'S THE ONE MAN SHE CAN'T HAVE When Hardy leaves town to pursue his plans, Liberty finds herself alone with a young sister to raise. Soon Liberty finds herself under the spell of a billionaire tycoon -- a Sugar Daddy, one might say. But the relationship goes deeper than people think, and Liberty begins to discover secrets about her own family's past.
WILL THEY FIND THEIR HEARTS' DESIRES OR WILL HEARTBREAK TEAR THEM APART? Two men. One woman. A choice that can make her or break her. A woman you'll root for every step of the way. A love story you'll never forget.
Thanx again to MK, who got this book for me for BAFAB day, I finally got my hands on a copy. If anyone knows anything about this blog, I adore Lisa Kleypas' books, but I was going to wait for this one in paperback. Up until this point, she's only written historicals, so I was a bit nervous about her contemporary debut. Well, I shouldn't have bothered, because she wrote a beautifully moving romance about a wonderful heroine and her very worthy hero. When we first meet Liberty, she is a gawky teenager living with her mother and mom's latest boyfriend in a trailer park. Here is where she meets Hardy Cates, the boy that changes her life and sets the tone for her for the rest of her life. Hardy is a few years older than Liberty, but eons older in experience. He's the one you never forget - larger than life, sexy, unforgettable - the one that makes you see what all the fuss is about. And Liberty definitely wants the fuss. But Hardy is determined to stay away from Liberty, no matter how badly he wants her. She's not the kind of girl you love and leave - she's a forever kind, and he knows it. So with his best intentions, he keeps away as best he can, though fate seems to have a twisted sense of humor and finds ways to bring them together, least of which is the day Liberty's mother gives birth to baby Carrington. A day that changes Liberty forever and gives her someone to love and cherish. Despite some tempting and emotional encounters, Hardy eventually leaves Welcome, and Liberty, behind. Liberty tries to forget him, putting all her heart and soul into loving her baby sister, the light of her life. Tragedy strikes and soon she finds herself without a mother, without money, without support. But life has a way of turning hardship into opportunity, and Liberty finds herself a good job, and the legal guardian of Carrington. She also finds herself in the path of a rough and acerbic billionaire who takes a special interest in Liberty and her sister. Meeting Churchill Travis leads her to his son, Gage, who despises her on sight. But fate again has its fun by throwing Gage and Liberty together again and again. Just when Liberty starts to get on with her life for good, her past comes back in the form of Hardy Cates; the boy she never forgot is now the man who wants her forever.... Wow, I loved this book, quite a bit. I loved the flavor of Texas - the food, the people, the accents, the way of life. I especially loved Liberty, and how she was not a victim of any sort, and certainly not helpless, though she was resigned to her life in Welcome. She made her own way. Though she wasn't a firebrand or a larger-than-life character, I loved her quiet strength, her determination, her unwavering love for her sister. I even loved her when she wasn't perfect. ****SPOILERS**** I can't say much else without giving away who Liberty ultimately chooses, so if you don't want to know, you better still not be reading. I liked Hardy as a young man - though he hurt Liberty badly by turning her away, I thought he had honorable intentions and couldn't fault him for that. I know she didn't understand; I probably wouldn't have understood either; but considering how the story ends, it was just as well. Though a determined and ambitious young man, he became ruthless and shallow and I really couldn't care for him by the end of the book. What he did, by using Liberty, was selfish, for no one but himself. Then there's Gage, who dislikes Liberty because he thinks she's a gold digger after his father for his money, and yet he cannot help but be attracted to her right from the start. The more he gets to know her, the more he sees that she's not that type of woman, and he begins to care for her. Just when they have a future together, another man comes along, trying to take it away, but Gage is not willing to let Liberty go, not when he knows what they have together is special, and he's determined to fight for her using every advantage he's got. My one complaint about Gage is that we don't see enough of him throughout the book. I would have liked to see more of how their relationship developed, and felt a bit short-changed on that front. ****END OF SPOILERS**** So despite my initial wariness about Kleypas delving into the contemporary genre, I feel she did a wonderful job, though more heroine-driven than I care for, and will definitely be picking up the next one, though I'll probably still wait for paperback, or a discounted hardcover. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. The paperback version of "Sugar Daddy" is coming out in March, so you just have to buy it. Seriously. It's a lovely story, and if you like memorable heroines, Liberty is one of the best. And any story that can make me cry, in a good way of course, is definitely worth the price. Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** Labels: Lisa Kleypas, reviews
posted by Stacy~ at 2/11/2008 08:54:00 PM
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Well, mine's either throwing tantrums, or it's on its last legs. I might be scarce online for awhile while I hold out on buying a new one. Then again I don't know if I could do without the intenet for long, so I might just go buy one now anyway, we'll see. Hopefully I'll be back soon....
posted by Stacy~ at 2/11/2008 08:20:00 AM
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Thursday, February 07, 2008:
...this is what I found: New Orleans, 1880s. Sent to watch over the decadent city, the angel Gabriel loses himself in the liquid pleasure of absinthe. So when his mistress, Anne, is murdered—and all evidence points to him— a foggy Gabriel cannot be sure he didn't do it. His penance: to be forever denied love. Should he seek pleasure with a woman, she'll know the depths of despair.
New Orleans, today. Hoping to unlock that unsolved mystery, forensic scientist Sara Michaels, Anne's great-great-granddaughter, meets the ageless, tormented Gabriel. To work together would mean suppressing their mutual attraction—he can't allow himself to touch Sara, for her own sake.
And for Sara, already familiar with the dangers of addiction, Gabriel poses the ultimate threat to her self-control. But can the desire burning between them turn into their salvation—or lead them both to destruction?
Big, wet, sloppy smoochies, Erin. You really made my day :) Labels: ARCs, Erin McCarthy
posted by Stacy~ at 2/07/2008 07:09:00 PM
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008:
MaryKate on "When a Good Author Goes Bad"
Last week, my pal Kati came up with the idea of "switching" blogs, so today she posted something from me, and I'm posting something from her. I adore Kati; she's smart, funny, gives great recs, and is an all-around cool person to know. I just wish she read much slower. Then again, she wishes I watched more t.v., so I guess we're even *g* Kati: I’ve known Stacy a little over two years. We met at Michelle Buonfiglio’s Romance: Buy the Book blog because of our mutual love of romance novels. We share a lot of the same tastes, and generally have the same reactions to most books. We, for the most part, have strong feelings about authors like Lisa Kleypas and Suzanne Brockmann (although Stace loves her a little more than me), we loves us some blue collar heroes, we love the alpha hero, and we despise weak and stupid heroines.  Every once in a while as a romance reader, I read a book by an author I love that is a clunker. This happened to me recently with Laura Lee Guhrke’s "The Wicked Ways of a Duke". Guhrke is a sure thing for me. Prior to this book, I’ve never read a book by her that I didn’t love and isn’t on my keeper shelf. Sure, she uses some conventions that make romance readers crazy, and yes, there was some hoopla over "The Marriage Bed". But me? I love her. She writes consistently likeable heroines and compelling heroes.
"The Wicked Ways of a Duke" didn’t work for me because it employs the one romance convention guaranteed to make me throw a book at the wall…romance by deceit. I have a very hard time with any hero acting as one thing, but really being something else. In the case of this book, he pretended to fall in love with the heroine because he was a fortune hunter. Unforgivable? No, many books feature this premise. But for me, it went on too long, and since we as readers were in on it from the start, it created a kind of knot of tension in my stomach as I read. I felt more and more sorry for the heroine as she fell in love with this man who really bore little resemblance to who he really was. Did she get her vengeance? Umm, sort of. But in the end, she lied to him as well, and to me, two wrongs don’t make a right.
Anyway, there was much gnashing of teeth at my house as I persevered, sure that somehow Laura Lee Guhrke would pull the story out. She’d either have the hero grovel enough to satisfy me. Or, she’d somehow tie up the issue in a way that would make the resolution believable. Alas, no, the book ended and I stomped off to my computer, shot an email to a friend of mine who reads a lot of romance complaining bitterly about the book, and I tossed the book directly into the give away bag.
Has the experience turned me off of Laura Lee Guhrke? No. I still love "Guilty Pleasures" with a passion. It’s a total comfort re-read for me (I love ugly duckling stories, and this one is a masterpiece). Will I buy her again? Yes. Once. After that, she becomes an author I look for at the Used Bookstore. But if that happens, I’ll be sad about it and regret it. She’s written some wonderful romances that I adore. But hey, $8.00 only goes so far these days, and I am unwilling to spend money on authors who consistently disappoint me.
What about you? What books were you disappointed in?
When a beloved author "steps off the path" what do you do? Do you never buy their books again? Do you give them one more chance? Labels: guest blogger, MaryKate
posted by Stacy~ at 2/06/2008 08:28:00 PM
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Tuesday, February 05, 2008:
I don't know about you, but growing up, I watched "General Hospital", just like my mom did. It was a tradition. Watched it for years, especially during the golden years of Luke & Laura. So it was a bit sad to hear that one of the characters, Amy, the gossipy nurse who butted in everybody's business, has passed away. She was only 49 years old. She wasn't a favorite character - because she could be jealous and a bit spiteful, but she was always there, at the nurses' station. (Trivia: saxophonist Dave Koz was the object of Amy Vining's affections). 1992 photo If you're a fan of Marjorie Liu's books, or you'd like to be, she's a guest blogger over at Michelle Buonfiglio's place today. It's also in celebration of the upcoming Chinese New Year, which totally confuses me cuz it's on a different day every year. So check out her post - very lovely and emotional.  February is Black History Month here in the U.S. and in Canada. It is celebrated in October in the U.K. Black History Month was established in 1976 "by Afro-Americans for the Study of Afro-American Life and History. The month-long celebration was an expansion of Negro History Week, which was established in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, director of what was then known as the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History." (from Wikipedia.org) I had no idea it's been around so long. I believe it's important to celebrate it, but hope one day it's as much a part of our history as any other. There shouldn't be a need to keep it separate - it should be a part of our education, part of our upbringing, part of our culture. I believe Carter G. Woodson hoped for that as well. I hope that happens before I die. Labels: Black History Month, Chinese New Year
posted by Stacy~ at 2/05/2008 05:04:00 AM
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Monday, February 04, 2008:
What I'm watching: BBC's "Robin Hood" (2006)
 Hot, hot, hot! This is the reason I started watching " Robin Hood" - for Richard Armitage, who plays Guy of Gisbourne. Never have I loved a villain so much. Richard plays Guy with a more sensitive nature - he's almost like a spoiled child in some ways, grabbing for whatever he can get, eager to have someone love him but suspicious and petulant when things don't go his way. He doesn't understand he cannot force someone to love him, no matter how much he wants them to. While part of him may want Marian because so does Robin, I think there's also a part of him that cares very deeply for her.  Now, for those of you who haven't seen it, I won't give away any spoilers, but things were a-brewin' at the end of season 2 and we're still not sure what will happen for season 3. So far I'm still working on season 1, and am ignoring any tidbits about future seasons. I'm just getting all dreamy about baddie Sir Guy (yeah, no surprise there) and even admit that the young whippersnapper who plays Robin Hood is a kind of a cutie - reminds me a bit of Brad Pitt with those twinkling eyes and charming smile. I do like him. And Will Scarlett. And Alan A Dale. Heck, even Much is kinda cute in a geeky way. It's not rocket science, and the version with Michael Praed is still my favorite, but it's a fun show to watch. One thing I've noticed is that instead of the gang winning at every turn, they seem to be going backwards. In the beginning, they won just about every battle, tricked the Sheriff and Guy, and won the day. Now they sure do fall into a lot of traps, people die, and Robin Hood is not always right, or blindly obeyed. Interesting stuff. And who doesn't get a kick out of the flamboyant and evil Sheriff? He cracks me up. I'm enjoying this campy ride. So, what are you watching? Labels: BBC, Richard Armitage, Robin Hood
posted by Stacy~ at 2/04/2008 05:30:00 AM
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Sunday, February 03, 2008:
The winner of a night with Richard is....
Sorry, sorry, SORRY for being so late. I wasn't feeling well yesterday, slept most of the day, and I do apologize. But I'm feeling better today, and ready to grant this lovely prize to... ~MEGAN FRAMPTON~ Congratulations! Megan, you can email me your snail mail addy to trelainastarblazer@yahoo.com and I will send it via Barnes & Noble to ya :) And thank you to EVERYONE who posted - such lovely little posts, and it got me sighing like a teenager with a crush. Love that feeling. Labels: North and South, winner
posted by Stacy~ at 2/03/2008 02:36:00 PM
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