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I bet that headline caught your attention! This post started innocently enough in the comments of The Smell of a Hero.
Susan said:
In my world everyone’s fang obsessed (lol) I’d say werewolves would also use fangs since wolves have large canines. (No claws) he-he.
I said:
They do have large canines. I think that should be a post - comparison of vampire and werewolf canines: Does Size Matter?
Susan goes on to note in an email:
…vampire fangs are thinner, when I think werewolves I think thicker (cough, cough).
Oh dear! What have we started? The battle between vampires and werewolves has begun. Will paranormal ever be the same? Probably, but let’s pretend otherwise…
Does size matter in paranormal?
When we think of heroes in paranormal romances we know a few basic facts. Nearly always, the hero is the alpha male whether it is in a vampire kiss or of a werewolf pack. Usually, the heroine is kick-ass. Additionally, she is also somehow forbidden to the hero. Rarely do we see a heroine go for the beta or lesser male in a paranormal. So that brings us to the question does size matter? I say it does.
In two book series that I’ve read, the vampire has won the girl in the end. The first is in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter Series where Jean-Claude muscles out Richard Zeeman. Granted, the series evolves and Zeeman comes back into the picture, along with a few dozen other men. The second is The Twilight Saga with Bella clinging to Edward Cullen and choosing him over Jacob Black.
With the second series we’ll never know the characters respective sizes, but in Hamilton’s world alpha lycanthropes are so far very well endowed and have the added benefit of being able to control that part of their anatomy… ie make it even bigger. I imagine using that ability might be used in male to male posturing, as for lovemaking… a girl can only hold so much.
But back to the canines, and not err… other equipment. Which species of nighttime heroes has the bigger bite (allure)?
Vampire heroes are elegant, sophisticated, and mysterious. Their beauty is just one of their allures. Do not for one moment think their charming façade equates to being a pansy. Oh no, vampire heroes are known for their volatile mood swings, strength, and deadly control.
Werewolf heroes are overtly masculine, muscled, and alpha. Their outer strength is coupled with inner sensitivity. They are the leaders for their packs and must take care of every member. It is a task that burdens them heavily at times, especially when youngsters are determined to run a foul.
If you had to turn…who would you choose to turn you?
Likes:
Jasper - hot. Great clips from the birthday sequence.
Jacob transforming into a werewolf - nothing like the creepy wolf/man thing of Harry Potter. It’s well executed, which makes me extremely hopeful for the rest of the special effects.
The 3 words being included that Hardwicke didn’t provide in Twilight.
Laurent with his creepy red eyes and his dialogue. Nice.
Edward’s kiss on Bella’s forehead.
Costumes. Yum.
Dislikes:
Bella’s new look makes her look like the actress and not like the character. Sorry, it’s true. Definitely a big irk as I just loved the long curly hair from before and the pale practically makeup-less look. Would have been happier to see a difference between the birthday scene and the scene with Laurent as it would have perhaps just shown Alice’s influence, alas that does not seem to be the case.
Didn’t like how rushed the 3 words were. It’s too hastily cut or spoken… one or the other. Makes it all very awkward.
Toss-up:
I can’t decide if I like or dislike the awkward delivery of a majority of the lines. I’m sure they sound better in the movie and the awkwardness would still fit with the characters as they grow throughout New Moon, but at the same time I’m wondering why some of the lines are delivered in such a jerky/jilted manner.
Edward Cullen is the gorgeous aloof boy who sits with a select group of people at lunch. He keeps to himself and has a fantastic brooding expression that simply makes the girls drool. He’s into music: listening to it, playing it, and creating it. On top of all that he’s a vampire and that gives him the bad boy edge. Can we say swoon?
Jacob Black
Boy Type: Mr. Fix-It
Jacob Black is the ultimate handyman. The place you’re likely to find him is the family garage as he loves cars and spends all his time, efforts, and money fixing them up. In fact, Bella’s truck is just one of his pet projects. Jacob is good at fixing more than just cars– he can fix problems and people too. Must be his warm and fuzzy nature. His friendship with Bella is what brings her out of the dark in New Moon.
Mike Newton
Boy Type: Guy Next Door
Mike Newton is the boy next door. His life is pretty easy. He has good friends, a good family, a good entry level job, and good looks. He can be pretty bright too and make smart observations. He wishes Bella would give him the time of day. He’s persistent to a point and yields defeat when it’s apparent things won’t be changing.
Eric Yorkie
Boy Type: Sweet Nerd
Eric Yorkie is on the school newspaper, part of the yearbook staff, and on prom committee. He’s active and smartly dressed, a little dorky, but that’s all part of his charm. He’s not used to asking girls out and misses his chance more than once. Perhaps all he needs is a little nerd girl loving!
Tyler Crowley
Boy Type: Popular Jock
Tyler Crowley is the popular jock. He’s definitely into something athletic like basketball or football. Like Mike Newton, it’s not hard for him to find a date, unless it’s expecting that date to be Bella. Tyler is a flirt and very outgoing. If it isn’t his muscles flashing, it’s his shiny car as it comes toward you.
Well we can easily define paranormal romance as subgenre of romance. But what is it really? Paranormal romance combines the supernatural world with that of the real, the natural, the plain. One lover is sure to be something special and the other lover is special because they are so plain; something is found in their ordinariness that strikes a cord with the extraordinary lover.
More than not these stories take place in America, especially when dealing with vampires, but it’s not a requirement for the genre. Paranormal romance usually blends mystery, thriller, or suspense as part and parcel of its tale. You could consider these novels to be more than a bit Gothic in theme. Anita Blake Vampire Hunter and the Twilight Saga are two such series that can be found within the category of paranormal romance.
Why do people like it so much?
The sales of paranormal romance have risen over the years. It is not uncommon to find several titles of paranormal fiction in romance aisles. Why is that? As I said when discussing Edward and Bella in the Twilight books, I believe it is because we are all craving that extraordinary romance.
As with time travel romances, paranormal romances that involve vampires have that glorious advantage of a love out of time. One person waits, separate from the time stream of the normal world with all its stresses and hectic schedules just for you. Waters run deep in the one that has been waiting, he (or she) knows just what it is like to live a small eternity in loneliness and now that you’ve been found, you won’t be let go. He (or she) will love you forever.
Besides vampires what fits into this category?
Magic users, lycanthropes (like werewolves), selkies, fairies, ghosts, superhuman capabilities (like flying), gods and goddesses, and angels and demons are all perfectly acceptable.
If you have more on the subject of paranormal romance feel free to add!
Originally posted 2008-07-01 08:32:53. Republished by Old Post Promoter
I was very excited to get my Breaking Dawn in the mail from Amazon. They managed to get it to me one day before they told me that it would arrive on my doorstep and I devoured the novel, all 700+ pages, in two days, which is consistent with how I’ve read the other three that came before.
The novel did many things I did not expect, and one thing in particular that I did expect. This review will contain spoilers, so read at your own risk. Suffice it to say I give Breaking Dawn four stars.
The wedding, surprisingly takes place within the first hundred pages. I thought that it would happen at the end after Jacob did something to delay it so he could win Bella for his own. This is not the case. The wedding is lovely and Bella gets through it just fine and afterwards can’t believe how uptight she was about the whole thing.
On their honeymoon, Bella and Edward make love successfully; unfortunately the scene fades to black, which annoyed me. The morning after Bella stirs and is blissfully happy but sore, Edward is composed and staring blankly at the ceiling and ruins her buzz by killing the mood. He won’t make love to her again, claims that she’s lying when she says she’s feeling fine—no great, all because he can see how rough he was with her. Bella only recalls that he held her tighter when she wanted him to, etc. Edward is sickened by how much of her skin is covered in bruises that match his hands.
Luckily, Bella manages to break him out of his funk through the use of sexy lingerie Alice packed for her and some innocent seduction. The second and third and so on times, Edward manages to ruin furniture instead of Bella’s skin, making him extremely satisfied… Bella too.
Meanwhile, I started to think about how much food Bella was consuming and came to the conclusion before it was revealed that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy is ridiculously accelerated and Edward freaks out. Bella knowing something is up, makes plans of her own to protect the life inside her and calls Rosalie for help, making the female vampire happy for the first time with her decisions.
From here the novel switches from Bella’s point of view to Jacob’s, which made me call up my friend and ask for some spoilers because I just don’t like the werewolf. During this part of the novel we witness Bella’s pregnancy, a break in the werewolf tribe as Jacob takes partial leadership, and Bella becoming very attached to Jacob’s presence.
The pregnancy takes a lot out of Bella until they realize that because the child is part vampire Bella’s diet needs to change from human food to a liquid diet of blood. Drinking blood immediately affects Bella’s health for the better, but also that of the baby’s. Every time the child moves inside Bella it leaves bruises on her skin and potentially breaks a rib in the process.
Edward is seriously going crazy and blames himself at this point and goes as far as offering Bella to Jacob if she really wanted a child as long as she’d be willing to give their child up as it was hurting her so much. Of course Jacob thinks on the idea and manages to bring it up to Bella who denies that its children she wants so much as her and Edward’s child that she wants.
Bella dies during birth, but luckily Edward manages to successfully turn her into a vampire while Jacob does CPR to keep the venomous blood flowing through her veins before it activates. Jacob leaves when he thinks it’s failed and goes downstairs where he intends to kill the child, now in Rosalie’s care. He never does, because once he lays eyes on their baby girl he bonds with her. This ends Jacob’s point of view in the story and switches back to Bella’s viewpoint.
The rest of the story deals with what I thought would happen to postpone the wedding—the Volturi are coming and they plan to execute the Cullen family for their Immortal Child (which is not what Edward and Bella’s child is per se, the term refers to something else). Alice and Jasper leave after Alice gives some very stern instructions to the family. The whole Western hemisphere is being herded together to witness the growth and humanity of the child.
It ends happily and Bella has amazing control on her thirst and on her special gift. I love the last few scenes between her and Edward. I am looking forward to reading the series again from Edward’s point of view, starting with Midnight Sun.
What did you think of the series ending?
Rating: 3 Stars
Originally posted 2008-08-13 05:03:13. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Q - I had so much fun reading Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark; what was your inspiration for the book? Do you have any photos you worked from for the imposing castle and grounds?
A - Thank you, Keira… I appreciate the kind words! I am a rational person, and so is Lady Anne. When she hears a werewolf has been spotted, she thinks, ‘big dog on the loose’. Once I saw that, and put it together with the Georgian era, when there was a lot of superstition (not that there isn’t that now!) the rest flowed from there. As for photos of the castle… what actually inspired Darkefell Castle is a pen, ink and watercolor picture I bought at a rummage sale; it is of an old castle with a modern (Georgian modern, probably mid-1700s) addition, and it is exactly Darkefell Castle! I’ve searched and searched online, but I can’t find the original that the artist worked from.
Q - What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Thinking up the plot.
Outlining.
Writing it.
Editing final drafts.
Depends upon what stage I’m at working, what I would answer to that question. Right now I would say, final editing is agonizing, because you know that after it’s gone, sent off to your editor, you will likely not have any opportunity to substantially change the course of the book again. You have to be sure of it!
Q - How did Sourcebooks find out about your novel?
I have a great agent with his nose to the ground, looking for intriguing new opportunities. When we were looking about for a publisher for the Lady Anne series, he included Sourcebooks Casablanca among the recipients, as he found their recent acquisitions interesting. We took it from there, sending it to the acquisitions editor, Deb Werksman, and she like it!
Q - How much time do you spend writing each day (or each week, if you prefer)?
It depends on a) what I’m writing and b) what else is on my plate. If I have a book due, it’s full-time days writing. If I have a book being released, then promotion takes over. But most days, overall, I tend to write about five hours a day.
Q - What do you think is the greatest creative risk you’ve taken?
Blending mystery and romance so thoroughly in the Lady Anne series. I adore romances with mystery elements and love mysteries with a strong thread of romance, and I hope readers do, too. I mean, both romance and mystery are parts of life, why can’t they co-exist in a novel genre?
Q - What are some plot devices you like? Can’t stand?
I don’t know so much if they are plot devices, but I despise emotionally manipulative writers, the ones who set you up to have certain expectations, then dash them. I think they believe that it’s more ‘literary’ to put characters (and readers) through pain than to give them a happy ending. Not necessarily.
Also, I hatehatehate (I feel so strongly about this I had to repeat it three times!) writers who aren’t true to their characters. When I close a book, I want to know, even if the end is sad, that it makes sense, that how the characters acted was true to their soul as the writer created them, and not some behavior that feels superimposed by the author because he or she had a certain ending in mind.
As for plot devices I like, all I ask of a writer is that they are true to their characters, and I’ll go with almost anything!
Q - Could you provide a picture of your bookshelf?
I don’t have just one bookshelf! They’re kind of scattered all over the house!
Q - Share some of your favorite books!
Favorite books… ah, the list is endless! A Flaw in the Blood, by Stephanie Barron blew me away… such a great writer. People know her from her fabulous Jane Austen as a detective series, but she’s good at everything she writes. I like classics, of course. Who hasn’t been inspired by Pride & Prejudice? But for day-to-day reading, I love mystery novels! Anne Perry, Victoria Thompson, many others!
Q - What do you do to relax and get away from writing? Is there something that really gets you away from it all?
Mostly, just ordinary stuff. I love to read; I can’t imagine there’s an author alive who wouldn’t say that! Reading is such a great escape, and that’s what I try to write for my readers, a great escape from care and worry. I do have a few hobbies - including karaoke - and hanging out with friends on the weekend. That is about it. I’m a very simple gal. A good book on the patio and a glass of wine or cup of tea is about the perfect end of a day.
Q - I have a spoiler question… Will there be a sequel so that Darkefell can win over Lady Anne? Oh please say yes!
Okay, I’m not one to release spoilers, but I will say this much, in Lady Anne and the Ghost’s Revenge (August 2009) things heat up considerably between Darkefell and Anne, and in Lady Anne and the Gypsy Curse (November 2009) the passion reaches bonfire proportions on the heat scale! Some do like it hot!
Q - How do you define love?
Love: wow, definitions are tough, but my idea of love is caring so much about another person, that you put them first in your thoughts. You know their faults and don’t give a damn. You would make any sacrifice to make them happy.
Q - Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I had a great time with these characters; they often did quite unexpected things! And I hope readers enjoy them as much as I did writing about their adventures.
Visit me at http://www.donnaleasimpson.com for more information on the Lady Anne series, and if you’d like to learn more about the Georgian era, in which they are set!
The first book in the Twilight saga as said by the author in the Amazon interview is about finding true love and is conveniently entitled Twilight. Stephenie Meyer was partial to calling it Forks, the name of the little town Bella goes to live. Her name was chosen because Stephenie Meyer would have named her daughter that if she had one. It fit so nicely with Edward. Bella’s full name is Isabella Swan.
Isabella goes to live in Forks, a little town that really does exist on the map on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Forks is full of rain. It never stops raining. It rains so much you never dry out. Isabella is horrified at the idea of returning to her childhood home to live with her father, Charlie, but she is going to go through with it. Bella is like that. Once she has made up her mind she won’t change it. The agonizing and worrying and doubting happens during the decision making process only.
Bella moves to Forks so her mother Renee can move around from place to place with her second (new) husband Phil and not feel guilty. She wants her mother to be happy and by going to Forks she’ll make Charlie happy. She’s going to miss the sunshine and heat of Arizona. But most of all, Bella is going to miss how easily she blended despite her pale skin into the crowds of her large high school. Forks is small and can not hold a secret. Bella is afraid of her first day of sophomore year. She doesn’t want to stick out like the clumsy sore thumb she is but knows she will.
At school things were going like she predicted and in ways she wasn’t expecting. Boys were paying attention to her, she was the center of attention, and at lunch the most beautiful kids were staring at her. Who were they? Why did suddenly, the most handsome look up and glare at her? At the table sat the Cullens. Each was adopted by Dr. Carlisle and his wife Esme. They didn’t hang out with anybody in school. Bella was told they thought themselves better than the rest.
But this did not explain the youngest Cullens’ behavior. Why did he act like he couldn’t stand her when she had done nothing to him? Why did he try to change out of biology before the school day was over? Why did he skip so much school? Was it to avoid her? Edward Cullens mystified Isabella Swan. That was until she found out he was a vampire. Then it made sense.
The Cullens are different from other vampires. The first of which I can’t say since it is fun to hear of it in the third book. The second is because they are in their own terms, ‘vegetarians.’ They choose to drink animal blood over human. You can tell when vampires shy from human blood because their irises are gold and not blood red. Bella can tell when Edward is thirsty or mad simply by the color of his irises. At first he is surprised, but then he relaxes. After all she was observant enough to notice he was a vampire when others simply ignored all the signs.
The sentence structure of Twilight is a little choppy and hard to get into. The story picks up, right where the author first dreamed about it. Stephenie Meyer wrote the scene in the meadow first and finished the story before returning to write the beginning. Beginnings are hard, and if you can push past the first one hundred to one-hundred-and-fifty pages then it gets good. That is when the story becomes captivating and hard to put down. Edward and Bella is a classic that only gets better.
I have a funny story with this book and by story I mean an epic fail. I was returning some books back to the library and somehow Lady Anne sneaked back with them. When I realized what I’d done it was as if I’d been amputated! So painful. Of course I returned the books on a Sunday; the only day in the week the library isn’t open until late in the afternoon or early in the day.
After a pretty good freak out, I waited until I could call. Ended hanging up once because I was on hold for five minutes and called back. Then I had to wait on the phone for twenty plus minutes before somebody from circulation got to me. They either forgot me or they were busy. I told them about the book and the person I talked with probably never got a call like this before because I was given a hard time.
Finally, I managed to convince them that the book was mine and not a library book. I don’t understand how this was so difficult as 1) it is not stamped with the library name nor was it 2) tagged with a detector strip or that pocket thing and 3) clearly says advance review copy on the cover! This is why I write in books to identify and claim them.
In the end they put the book on hold for me and now it was a matter of getting back over there. The library where I dropped the books off while on errands was all the way across town. I really didn’t make this easy on myself. Luckily I got there, but it was close! One more red light and it would have been better luck next time. Needless to say I was very, very pleased to get this book back and finish it… which I did later that night.
What I liked best about Lady Anne and the Howl in the Dark was its tribute to Gothic romance, followed swiftly by a capable intelligent heroine. The hero liked that best about her too so how could you not fall in love with him? Lady Anne is very plain and a spinster to boot, which are some of my very favorite things to read in romance.
Simpson writes in a witty and engaging voice. I loved Lady Anne. She was such a treat. Her musings on Lord Darkefell are particularly fabulous:
It was either that or go back to pondering the feel of Lord Darkefell’s too-perfect lips pressed against hers. And his too-perfect body against hers. He was entirely too perfect—if there was such a concept as overabundant perfection—in a physical sense and entirely too maddeningly imperfect in every other way.
Without giving anything else away I will say this: if you like mystery, intrigue, werewolves, and Gothic you will love this book! Oh and chances are you’re going to jump to conclusions about the mystery and be totally wrong - I was!
Book three in the Twilight saga is by far my favorite of those books published. (Breaking Dawn, book 4, is coming out in August) Eclipse is simply beautiful. It’s longer than the other two books but does not contain chapter one of the next book (darnit!). In Twilight, true love was found. In New Moon, true love was lost. In Eclipse true love is a choice.
Eclipse is all about Jacob and Edward and their love for Bella. Edward hates Bella’s attachment to Jacob, but he feels he should not get between. Why? Simply put, because Edward feels he should suffer the consequences of his actions last year. That having to deal with Jacob is part of the price he has to pay for his foolish decision to leave Bella.
Victoria, the vampire out to get Bella from the last book is still at large. It is Bella who puts all the clues together and comes up with the answer. Edward and Jacob and the rest of the Cullens and Werewolves have to work together to protect her. Are the dogs and bloodsuckers really going to work together? Hmm… you could say trouble is in the air.
I have three favorite scenes in this book. The first is the night Bella goes over to the Cullens for her weekend abduction (this is part of the plan with the werewolves and the vampires) and stays with Edward alone. I won’t say exactly why I like this scene, but if you could probably guess if you have read the other books by this point. I loved it. It is hands down the best scene out of all three books. I laughed out loud quite a few times because of Bella’s remarks.
The second is Bella’s quasi dream where she overhears Edward and Jacob talking in the tent. Jacob asks that Edward speak plainly since he can’t hear his thoughts like Edward can hear Jacob. They talk about Bella and Edward is so noble in this scene you just want to find him and cuddle him to death. Pun intended. Their truce ends at daylight.
And lastly I loved the ending scenes from the time Bella stops crying to the very end. They feel like one big scene, culminating once again in Edward and Bella’s meadow. It is here he’s determined to be the selfless he’s ever been. He’s been watching her and it seems she’s doing everything everybody else wants, making them happy at her own expense. So he puts his wants aside and lets Bella choose how to best make herself happy. She’s happy right where she is and the other pain will fade in time… she hopes.
The point of view changes from there to Jacob’s and as I read it I was feeling vindictive. Not a very nice thing to begrudge a fictional character, but I was glad for his pain. I still am. It’s just another sign in my opinion at Stephenie Meyer’s skill at writing her own characters. We don’t get that wrapped up in the story too often. It is very rare, last seen in Harry Potter, the story of the boy wizard. I hope you will pick up this saga and find yourself as riveted by this compelling love story as I was.
Rating: 5 Stars
Happy Readings!
P.S. What book four will be about I can not begin to guess. True love is able to heal all wounds? What do you think? Leave a comment and tell me!
Originally posted 2008-11-27 10:05:57. Republished by Old Post Promoter
I am very upset with Associated Press Movie Critic Christy Lemire’s review of Twilight. She gave the film 1.5 Stars and wrote a very unappealing look at the book’s film adaptation. I thoroughly enjoyed the film and I think the review was written to be controversial rather than an adequate depiction of the movie. I don’t know why critics try to take the fun out of something, but I am determined she was just being a sourpuss about the whole affair.
I went to the midnight premiere last night wearing one of my handmade Twilight pendants. I sat there in my seat waiting for the movie to start for nearly two hours and chatted with a nice girl who came dragging along a friend who wasn’t at all interested in the movie or books. We were both Edward fans and had similar opinions and views of the books and the waiting time was spent very pleasurably. I commend the theater for opening up seating immediately instead of making us wait outside. The one question we both asked was:
Would the movie live up to the hype?
I say it did. Sure there were some over the top segments, but it was done in accordance to the book. The slow-down filming of the scenes pushed it to the level of being too much. This mostly occurs with the introduction of the supermodel vampires - wonderfully cast and in the biology scene when Edward first gets a whiff of Bella’s pungent and lethal scent. It was unintentionally funny, and I think watching it a second time away from immature boy commentators will be thoroughly acceptable instead of slightly laughable.
Thoughts on the Casting:
Bella was perfectly cast with Kristen Stewart. She made watching the slightly awkward and shy Bella Swan very enjoyable not at all the sullen face Lemire makes her out to be. (Her hair I could kill for - gorgeous!) The sexual/romantic tension between Stewart and Robert Pattinson, playing vampire Edward Cullens, was phenomenal. Very hot kiss scenes between them (once again would be more enjoyable without the immature boys yelling across the theater… and that’s saying something because the scenes were amazing even with the commentary going on.)
The Cullens family was wonderfully cast too. I was worried with how many unknown names (at least to me) that were appearing throughout the film that it would fall short of readers’ expectations. Alice played by Ashley Greene was perky, cute, and fun. Jackson Rathbone played a seriously sexy Jasper. I loved him in the film and could watch him as often as Bella and Edward. Jasper is the newest Vegan vampire and it’s very hard for him to be around humans - hence the nearly always present expression of pain on his face.
Lemire mentioned that Rosalie only had one expression - the sneer and scowl. Well if Lemire has read the books Rosalie is the disapproving vampire. She doesn’t like Bella and all Bella ever sees her do is sneer and scowl. Rosalie does provide some good humor at the start of the flight from danger scenes.
Dr. Carlisle Cullen is also one sexy vampire. Yum. He plays the hot fatherly doctor figure very well. Of the vampires, he looks most like a vampire. The others are as pale as Bella in most instances.
The high school mortals were also amazing in their roles. The film built up their friendship quickly without much dialogue. I could easily believe that the group had been friends for years. Eric and Mike were fantastic. Jessica and Angela too. Jessica provided a lot of humor to her scenes because you can see where her thoughts were all the time based on her facial expressions.
Bella’s father and mother were similarly excellent choices, though I agree with Lemire’s comment on the bad cop style mustache for Billy Burke.
Jacob and the rest of the Quileute Tribe were done well. I have never been a Jacob fan by any stretch of the imagination but I enjoyed him in this movie. I did hear on the way out of the theaters that some girls were switching loyalties to Edward. I thought Jacob was pretty cute - apparently they didn’t agree.
Casting gets a 5 out of 5.
Thoughts on Special Effects:
Lemire says Twilight was a low budget film. I don’t know what that means, or how much Twilight ran on so I can’t really comment on money to visual effects and ask something like where did all the money go?
Edward’s flying through the trees reminded me of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. It was more choppy than the Chinese film and harder to get behind. This goes very much into the over the top area. The meadow sequence was perfectly acceptable. I also enjoyed his second run through the trees and climbing up them with Bella on his back. That was easier to believe in a way. Sort of Spider-Manish. I also liked his pet name for her in spider monkey. Much better than sweetheart, baby, luv, honey, sexy, etc. we hear most of the time. It’s unique and therefore special.
The ballet studio sequence was wonderful. I can only imagine how hard it was to edit out all the camera and extra people and I’ve seen the behind the scenes look at the ballet studio and what they were doing. It was amazing! I liked it a lot and I sure most moviegoers will too.
Back to the meadow - Edward as his sparkly vampire self could have passed easily any sunny day in San Francisco as a Queen with glitter decorating his whole body. I could see the diamond comment, but it wasn’t as noticeable or excessive as the books made it out to be. If all vampires looked like that in the sun they should just move to California and nobody would notice or look twice.
Ending:
The ending was great with prom. Jacob showed up but didn’t get to dance with Bella. I’m so vindictive that I giggled on the inside at this, striking up a point for Edward. Very possessive returning to Bella’s side when he spies the soon to be werewolf.
The gazebo reminded me of a lot of dancing sequences in other high school films… for instance A Cinderella Story. But I loved how he picked her up and had her dance with him. As they were dancing the other couples noticeably left the gazebo giving Edward and Bella a few private moments at the end. The parting words were sweet and the moment sizzling even as it was tender.
Overall I give this movie 4.5 Stars. A must see for any Twilight fan and a chance for non-Twihards to become smitten with Twilight and its biting appeal.
Originally posted 2008-11-21 13:18:31. Republished by Old Post Promoter
The second book in the Twilight saga is entitled New Moon and if the first book was about finding true love, then this book is about losing true love. I am not particularly fond of this book. It is because it contains so little Edward. We are introduced to the other paranormal group just up the road however. We meet those that live La Push Reservation, home to the Quileute Tribe. Some we’ve been introduced to before, like Jacob Black. Others are new.
If you couldn’t wait for the library to hand you this next book in the series, you read the beginning chapter that was at the end of Twilight. A teaser that leaves you wondering what happens to Bella when she cuts herself at the Cullens house. Her blood makes them thirsty, none more so than Jasper who has the least control. Edward gets Bella to safety but the damage is done.
The next few days he becomes more and more distant to Bella. She’s desperate to break through to Edward when suddenly he starts to talk to her again. Only she wished he wouldn’t. I wished he hadn’t too. He breaks it off with her at the edge of the forest. It is better than the sewers Angel dumped Buffy in, but I was heartbroken and Bella more so. Here it is, I thought, the end of a good story (but just you wait… keep reading).
So deep is her grief over losing Edward she loses herself and becomes a walking shell. It isn’t until half a year later that she can even stick her head above the water. She does it only because Charlie is running scared and pulling ultimatums about going to Florida to live with her mother. Bella can’t do that. Doing that means leaving the magic of Forks behind and relegating Edward to a memory and not a reality. So she asks a friend to the movies… anything without romance. She couldn’t handle that. It’s after the movies that the story gains interest again. She hears Edwards voice… in her head. His voice is a beautiful hallucination warning her of the danger ahead.
What follows next is a series of stupid reckless moves as Bella fights to hear his voice. She turns to Jacob Black to help her fix motorcycles, thinking the danger in riding them would provide her with Edward’s voice. She becomes Jacob’s friend, and over the hundreds of pages left he becomes the sun to warm the desolation of her life. I don’t like Jacob. He keeps pushing the friend boundary, so certain of Bella turning to him and forgetting about Edward despite her repeated warnings that she’ll never love anyone but Edward.
But then the story changes again and it’s like sweet music playing in your mind because you just know Edward’s coming back into the picture. And like Bella, you fear you are going to miss him, lose him again. The book ends on the sweetest note imaginable and you close this sad book feeling ridiculously happy. The ending is four and a half stars.
Rating: 3 Stars
Originally posted 2008-11-19 04:13:23. Republished by Old Post Promoter
New Moon will officially be underway soon and that means it’s time for a little celebration and a contest. Goody! As you know preternatural romance on the rise and not just for vampires and werewolves, though they seem to get most of the attention. For this contest it’s time to visit paranormal romance covers. Your mission is to create a slinky sexy cover featuring some supernatural hotness. Pick your poison by focusing on werewolves or vampires.
Vampire Covers Must Include:
fangs
a composition of dark colors
a red object
full or partial chest and stomach
Werewolf Covers Must Include:
a wolf
a composition of dark colors
the moon
bare chest and stomach
Both Types of Covers Must Meet the Following Requirements:
male model is someone you know personally
all elements used must be your own or available under the Creative Commons license
final image is 468 x 420
original title (on image) and accompanying summary of book (not on image)
I will hand select the winner from entries received on or before March 21. You have limited time - so get started! Winner will be announced March 22nd-24th depending on the number of submissions. Contest is open to all!
By submitting you agree that the work is your own and that Love Romance Passion has the right to share it on the blog.
Turn your submissions into Keira at reviewromancenovel@yahoo.com
Dark Highland Fire is about two distinctly polar opposites getting together and overcoming obstacles that should under normal circumstances lay them low. Rowan is a fiery demi-goddess akin to the vampire as she needs blood to survive. However her blood-taking is about life not death so at most she is a cousin of the vampire. Her actual species is called Dyaad and they are descendants of the Goddess Morgaine.
Rowan is full of sass, sharp tongued, and has a streak of violence in her. Her version of her tribe’s magic is geared toward destruction. This is important to remember as for why this is the case is revealed at the end of the novel. There’s one thing that irritated me about Rowan, the heroine of Dark Highland Fire. She claims to not need anyone but the novel starts out with her brother, Bastian, saving her by transporting them to Earth’s dimension and then again, same method, to the Scottish Highlands.
Bastian is a perfect character that at the author’s will be applied like deus ex machina to any situation to get other characters to safety. He’s used this way more than the two times mentioned so far. Overall he’s a good brother to his sisters and I hope will be the focus of another book in this set of Highland novels even though he’s not a MacInnes Werewolf. (Speaking of the MacInnes werewolves cameo appearances of Carly and Gideon abound in this book!)
Gabriel is a lackadaisical werewolf. He’s third in line and happy to stay there – no plots to overthrow his brother or father. When Bastian spies him, the cool Dyaad Drakkyn decides to leave his injured sister in Gabriel’s hands. Gabriel questions this decision and is said to have a streak of stubbornness inside him to rival Rowan – which he was going to need. Successfully he manages to get Rowan to do the things he wishes for instance drink his blood to heal, stay put in his apartment for safety purposes. He hasn’t quite figured out that as the next Dyana of her people, Rowan is more than capable of holding her own (at least when she doesn’t let fear paralyze her and smother out her flame.)
Lucien is a Dragon, heir to the throne and has fallen in lust at first sight with Rowan. His father backs his decision to go after the little fire princess and claim her as his own. Dragons apparently don’t understand the words no and not interested. He’s the reason Rowan is on the run and afraid. Though honestly from the daemon creatures mentioned throughout the novel with powerful magic sound more scary. I guess their weak and overly ripe bodies are the reason they inspire more disgust than fear though that’s there too in most cases.
If you’re familiar with the first novel in the series then you know that werewolves mate for life and this ritualistic act is like a marriage. Rowan and Gabriel initiate and finalize this unwittingly during some steamy sex scenes. Once created it is impossible to break though Lucien is going to try his best to do so – Rowan is his and the wolf will pay. Find out if Rowan and Gabriel make it in this fast paced multidimensional novel!
Rating: 3 Stars.
Originally posted 2008-11-10 14:09:27. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Welcome readers! Gather round the campfire as Terry Spear is joining us today to illuminate on her Wolf series. Werewolves as you know are not just for scary stories… they’re for loving too!
Keira: How did you come up with the idea for the Wolf series?
Terry: Years ago, I had read Jack London’s White Fang and Call of the Wild and while I was thinking about creating a werewolf series, I remembered the way he had emphasized that not only did man need to survive, but that wolves did, and this was shown also from the wolves’ own point of view. I fell in love with wolves back then. So when I thought of doing werewolves, I wanted to create a world where they were like real wolves when in that form, but with the sensibilities of humans, in that they would still have to be careful in considering the human aspect. And as humans, they still had their wolf enhanced abilities.
Keira: What makes your werewolves different from other renditions? (i.e. What are the rules to shapeshifting, pack structure, history, biology, etc.)
Terry: What makes mine different from some is the fact they’re just like real wolves in the wild. And when they’re in their human form, it’s not like they’ve taken off a wolf coat and leave their wolf world behind. The two parts of them make the whole. As with real wolves, there are red and gray, so I had a lot of fun with showing the werewolves coming from different werewolf species. I enjoyed taking the old standard of the werewolf horror tales and using them to show what is the same and what is different, also.
Keira: I noticed a name popping up in the book a lot and I have to ask… Who is Julia Wildthorn?
Terry: Julia is a red werewolf who writes werewolf romance novels, but to be true to the secretive nature of their kind, she writes a version that is not real. I had a lot of fun with one of her books in the fourth book of my series that is based in the Canadian Arctic where readers will get to read about Arctic werewolves.
Keira: What was the hardest part of writing Destiny of the Wolf?
Terry: It was too short and I had to write it longer. And when I got going, I had so much fun with it, I couldn’t stop and then I had to cut it down.
Keira: That’s too funny. You’re a modern day Goldilocks but with wolves instead of bears. How do you define love?
Terry: The give and take of a relationship where two people care about each other’s needs and are willing to sacrifice their own for their mate.
Keira: What makes a great (written) bedroom scene?
Terry: Unique setting, or something that makes the same old setting memorable, showing the characters’ emotions, not just the physical side of the scene.
Keira: After werewolves and vampires what next?
Terry: More werewolves and vampires? I love to write them, and hunky Highlanders too. Though I have a fun demon story for YAs and a couple of ghost stories also.
Keira: I love me some hunky Highlanders! Could you provide a picture of your workspace? It would be fun to see where you sit down and get creative!
Terry: I don’t have a picture of my workspace, but I’ve included one of me at my Heart of Texas (HOT) RWA chapter meetings, where you can see I’m busily brainstorming with the others in my chapter. And yes, it was cold in the meeting room so I kept my coat on the whole time. Brainstorming doesn’t work up enough heat.
Keira: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Terry: Heart of the Wolf came out first, was named one of Publishers Weeklys Best Books of the Year and NOR Reader Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance. Destiny of the Wolf has just been released, and To Temp the Wolf will follow in September. Legend of the White Wolf (name may be changed) will be released after that. I’m working on the next two in the series now. They’re all stand alone titles and each has its own special story within the lupus garou world. If you’re looking for a fun tale about wolves and humans combined, I hope you’ll check out my werewolf tales!
If anyone wants to join me, I’m at the following places and could always use a few more friends!
Have you ever wanted to shapeshift? Maybe not exactly thought of it in those terms, but haven’t you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall? To hear and see what was going on at some event that you couldn’t/wouldn’t dare intrude on otherwise? But were dying to know what went on?
Or have you ever wished you could stretch up and reach something you can’t without a stepstool or ladder? Or wished you could run like a gazelle? Or had four hands so you could do whatever job you were doing that needed more than two hands? What about looking out over a mountainous ravine, watching an eagle soaring above the treetops? Ever wish you could fly like that?
Or swim deep into underwater caves or around exquisite corals and through colorful tropical fish, or under icebergs to see what’s down there, without the aid of scuba or snorkeling gear or wetsuits?
What if you could show off a pair of wickedly sharp teeth if someone really aggravated you and that would make him or her back off-quickly?
So now, have you ever wanted to shapeshift?
Why werewolves? In truth, I started out with vampires, and then somewhere along the line I created a futuristic world-a warrior who is grounded on a planet where the heroine is a panther shapeshifter and her brother, a dragon. But then, I began considering wolves, werewolves and how they got just as bad a rap as vampires in the beginning. Someone needed to love them, as they were. Many stories show werewolves living in our society, some as a fantasy element, some where they are more closely related to the old werewolf tales-man hates his being a werewolf, can’t remember what he does in the middle of the night, dead bodies everywhere.
Mine are about a race of humans, unsure how they were turned, though various thoughts persist, from alien forces to a mutated virus from the bite of a wolf early on. I try to keep my stories as true to wolf behavior in the wild as I can-but of course, their actions are moderated by their human halves. And while they’re human, they have their enhanced abilities that give them an advantage over regular humans.
In Heart of the Wolf, which was named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year, they said this: “The vulpine couple’s chemistry crackles off the page, but the real strength of the book lies in Spear’s depiction of pack power dynamics, as well as in the details of human-wolf interaction. Her wolf world feels at once palpable and even plausible.”
And The Romantic Times had this to say: “A solidly crafted werewolf story, this tale centers on pack problems in a refreshingly straightforward way. The characters are well drawn and believable, which makes the contemporary plotline of this story of love and life among the lupus garou seem, well, realistic.”
In Destiny of the Wolf, I wanted to show a werewolf pack that actually runs a town, a fictional place called Silver Town, based on several silver towns in Colorado. Lelandi is a red wolf from another part of Colorado, who knows her sister has been murdered, but when she arrives in Silver Town to locate and dispense with the murderer, she finds herself on his new hit list. And Darien, the gray alpha pack leader, soon changes his mind about sending the luring red back to her own pack, and keeping her right where she is-for her protection, of course.
So why wolves? They’re fiercely protective of their own, mate for life, and live in family packs, loyal, courageous, cunning, and strong. Just seeing them nuzzling each other, shows their human, I mean, loving side. So why not werewolves? Combined, it makes them a hot new item where the term alpha male takes on a whole new meaning.
If you could, what would you like to shapeshift into?
Werewolf heroes are overtly masculine, muscled, and alpha. Their outer strength is coupled with inner sensitivity. They are the leaders for their packs and must take care of every member. It is a task that burdens them heavily at times, especially when youngsters are determined to run a foul.
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Q - How much time do you spend writing each day (or each week, if you prefer)?
, by Stephanie Barron blew me away… such a great writer. People know her from her fabulous Jane Austen as a detective series, but she’s good at everything she writes. I like classics, of course. Who hasn’t been inspired by Pride & Prejudice? But for day-to-day reading, I love mystery novels! Anne Perry, Victoria Thompson, many others!
(August 2009) things heat up considerably between Darkefell and Anne, and in Lady Anne and the Gypsy Curse (November 2009) the passion reaches bonfire proportions on the heat scale! Some do like it hot!
Eclipse is simply beautiful. It’s longer than the other two books but does not contain chapter one of the next book (darnit!). In Twilight, true love was found. In New Moon, true love was lost. In Eclipse true love is a choice. 
. I also liked his pet name for her in spider monkey. Much better than sweetheart, baby, luv, honey, sexy, etc. we hear most of the time. It’s unique and therefore special.
. But I loved how he picked her up and had her dance with him. As they were dancing the other couples noticeably left the gazebo giving Edward and Bella a few private moments at the end. The parting words were sweet and the moment sizzling even as it was tender.
and 
came out first, was named one of Publishers Weeklys Best Books of the Year and NOR Reader Choice Award for Best Paranormal Romance. 
has just been released, and To Temp the Wolf will follow in September. Legend of the White Wolf (name may be changed) will be released after that. I’m working on the next two in the series now. They’re all stand alone titles and each has its own special story within the lupus garou world. If you’re looking for a fun tale about wolves and humans combined, I hope you’ll check out my werewolf tales!
Have you ever wanted to shapeshift? Maybe not exactly thought of it in those terms, but haven’t you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall? To hear and see what was going on at some event that you couldn’t/wouldn’t dare intrude on otherwise? But were dying to know what went on?
