Entries Tagged 'Love Triangle' ↓
March 16th, 2010 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Clumsy Heroine, Contemporary, Love Triangle, Paranormal, Stephenie Meyer, United States of America, Vampire, Virgin Hero, Virgin Heroine, Werewolf, Young Adult
If you're a LRP virgin, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. It's free and easy! See you tomorrow! ~Keira.
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 Blog Post Promoter
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March 10th, 2010 — 4 Stars, ARC, Beauty and Fashion, Blackmail, Contemporary, D-F, Lawyer, Love Triangle, Survival, United States of America
Based on the back copy, I was fairly certain that at best this book was going to be disappointing. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The novel while sounding like it would be better in theater then in print is very entertaining. The hero and heroine start off in relationships with other people. They meet at an airport on their way to Florida to meet their respective partners. Both are long term relationships.
Juliana and Jeremy have been together for so long, their names sound as comfortable as peanut butter and jelly. Juliana is surprised to see sadness in Jeremy’s eyes when they make love. The next morning a woman calls and Jeremy tells Juliana he’s been wondering what it would be like to be with another. Devastated by this revelation, Juliana insists on breaking up – but Jeremy doesn’t want to do that. So Juliana enforces a three month separation where they can do whatever they want with whoever they want and decide later if they want to get together again or stay apart.
Michael has a big case starting. All he wants to do is write the opening for it. Instead he’s participating in a three-ring circus that is his engagement party to Paige. In reality it is a political party for her father, the Admiral. During the party, Michael sees his whole life unfolding before him jumping through hoops to please his fiancee and her dad. He begs Paige to marry him now and forget the lavish marriage ceremony, something Michael is sure she wants more than the groom. When she refuses and he finds out about her most recent manipulation he calls it off.
Juliana and Michael reunite on the return flight to Baltimore/D.C. and catch up. When Juliana’s car won’t start it becomes the beginning of a beautiful and lasting relationship… with one or two hiccups along the way.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Love at First Flight
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Originally posted 2009-07-09 03:44:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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February 27th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, ARC, Amnesia, Bride Stealing, Captain, Children, Cursed Lead, Duchess, Countess, Marchioness, Dukes and Earls, G-I, Great Britain, Love Triangle, Memory Loss, Revenge, Scarred Hero, Soldier, Widow or Widower
I'll be the first to tell you I'm not a fan of the love triangle for many reasons. The first and foremost reason is because I feel it's just a ploy by an author to fuel the angst and drama of a mediocre story. Haymore proves me wrong. She does not do this. The love triangle is a valid part of the plot and wholly integral with the storyline. She approaches the love triangle in a very unique manner. I don't want to spoil anyone, because it's so different than anything I've encountered before in my readings.
Another reason I have trouble with the love triangle situation is the waffling. I simply don't get it. I'm told this is because I haven't been in one and until I have triangles are hard to appreciate or sympathize with. If you're like me you probably think it's very black and white and very little gray. In my head, I know it's gray. I know that it is possible to love two people at once, but the Grinch side of me feels that if you can't make a choice between them then you don't love either one enough and should let both go. Haymore made me feel the conflict that Sophie, who is in the middle, goes through. I appreciate her position and I sympathize with her, something that is way out of the norm with me.
I have a feeling that a second read through will make it a better read, because I know where it's going. I was looking at all the wrong things in the book the first time and therefore was anxious and worried about how the plot was developing, certain that Haymore was going to bungle it. I just couldn't see how it was going to work out.
Haymore surprised me, the ending surprised me, and that says something. It made me reevaluate the whole book and all my complaints and worries held no weight.
A fan of the love triangle will be placing this novel on their favorite shelf. Someone who like me, needs a little persuasion about the loving the love triangle can read this and appreciate it. Who knows, it may hook you so completely you can't wait to grab a hold of another love triangle!
A brief summary:
Sophie loved Garrett since she was 16 years old and was devastated when he didn't return home from Water-Loo. Tristan is her best friend and together over many years they healed from their mutual loss. One night after their marriage Garrett returns. Everything as they knew it is changed from property to titles, from money to marriages--Haymore explores Regency law and Regency hearts.
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars
Buy: A Hint of Wicked
Originally posted 2009-05-31 03:48:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 9th, 2010 — 4 Stars, ARC, Dukes and Earls, Erotica, Guest Reviews, Historic America, Love Triangle, Magic Users, Mystery, P-R, Paranormal, Revenge, United States of America, Widow or Widower
by Susan S., guest reviewer
Sex and Subterfuge is a compelling novella with likeable characters, palpable emotions, and a great plot.
This is book two in Roman’s- The Dark Desires of the Druids series.
Does it stand alone? Yes. Although, if you read its predecessor Murder and Magick, you’ll learn the events which cause Lucien to flee England. Sex and Subterfuge has brief references to characters from book one: Isadore, Raven, Mac, Corwin, Gareth and Beckett. But, the author does a nice job of explaining their character roles.
Note: The hero Lucien Harrington (Earl of Granville) was also in book one.
Recommendations: Do you like jealous heroes and love triangles? How about sizzling sexual encounters atop of dining room furniture? If you answered yes to either question, you’re going to love this novella. I’m also recommending it, if you enjoy reading paranormal romance, historical, or erotica.
If you’ll remember in Murder and Magick the setting was in England. Well welcome to America! The setting in Sex and Subterfuge takes place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It’s been more than 130 years since the magickers from Europe and the American magickers have been in contact. So why the devil is Lucien in America! That’s precisely what the heroine (Morgana Blackthorne) intends to find out. When Lucien tells Morgana there are rogue magickers in “her” American community, she is adamant that there isn’t. Until her visions indicate danger of a murderous kind.
Should she trust this new Englishman and give in to her lustful emotions? Or, will she face the danger alone and send this hot Earl packing?
When reading a story, I can usually pick out “one” main character that appeals to me. Usually. In Roman’s novella though, I loved not one, but “three” equally.
Morgana: Is a strong powerful Master with a responsibility to protect her people. Yet, she has moments of weakness and vulnerability.
Lucien: He’s a tall, blond- haired, blue-eyed Englishman; with one “wicked” magickal affinity. Loved him!
James Blackthorne: Gosh, I loved him too! He’s Morgana’s cousin. I found it touching how he protects and looks after her.
The novella didn’t garner five stars for one reason only. I felt the novella should’ve been fleshed out more. Book one gave us blood magick oaths and ancient words of healing. I wanted more of the same in Sex and Subterfuge, and was disappointed when a New Moon Ritual was mentioned, but not described.
The Dark Desires of the Druids is a wonderful series. It’s my intent to read “all” of the remaining books within this series.
Books three and four are currently available for your reading pleasure. Desert and Destiny is the third; Temptations and Treachery is the fourth.
4 Star Rating
Buy: The Dark Desires of the Druids II: Sex and Subterfuge
Erotic Romance, Historical, Paranormal, Ravenous Romance, Fantastica Publication, Copyright 2009, eBook Novella, pages 160.
ISBN# 978-1-60777-107-4.
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December 30th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Architect, Children, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, Cooking, Divorced, Lawyer, Love Triangle, Mistress or Courtesan, Movie Reviews, United States of America
It’s Complicated is bust your gut funny. I laughed the whole way through. Of all the older couple romantic comedies (Last Chance Harvey
, Something's Gotta Give
, and As Good As It Gets
) this was my definite favorite. It’s a fast upbeat comedy about post-divorce.
It’s been ten years since Jane (Meryl Streep) divorced two-timing Jake (Alec Baldwin), who is now married to his mistress Agness. One weekend, while celebrating their son’s graduation, Jane and Jake share an evening together and hook up. Suddenly, Jane is the other woman and it’s good. She’s not trying to figure life out anymore. Instead she’s living it and it makes her happier, more vibrant, and risk-taking. One of those risks she takes is Adam (Steve Martin), the architect designing her kitchen. It’s as things come together and start to unravel she realizes that the whole situation is complicated. Very complicated.
Streep, Baldwin, and Martin are the core to this movie and play off each other with the deftness and ease that could only come with experience. The comedic timing is so perfect you will find yourself obnoxiously laughing in the middle of the theater. Luckily, everyone is laughing together with you so it won't matter. It’s really very cute.
Streep made Jane relatable (even to the 20 something crowd). She was neurotic, natural, and charming. You will root for her. Baldwin played Jake flawlessly. Truly a great performance. You loved him even when he was so bad (it’s good.) I had reservations about Steve Martin (never been a fan of his work) but I was happily surprised and enchanted. Martin plays his part with empathy and sensitivity.
John Krasinski, who plays Harley, the fiancé of one of the daughters, is a riot and a half. Oh my gosh was he fabulous. Krasinski stole every scenes he was in.
The supporting friendships for Jane played by Rita Wilson, Mary Kay Place, and Alexandra Wentworth were lovely. I want friends like them. Definitely a perk of the film is watching the three of them and Streep interact and act together.
If you’re looking to feel good, laugh until you hurt, and get a happy ending watch this film!
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: It's Complicated
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November 30th, 2009 — 5 Stars, Book Review, Clumsy Heroine, Contemporary, Love Triangle, Paranormal, Stephenie Meyer, United States of America, Vampire, Virgin Hero, Virgin Heroine, Werewolf, Young Adult
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 Blog Post Promoter
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November 22nd, 2009 — 4 Stars, D-F, Fantasy, Fey / Fae, Guest Reviews, Lawyer, Love Triangle, Magic Users, Paranormal, United States of America
By Susan S., Guest Reviewer
Barely Bewitched is a fun, “light,” and entertaining read. I’ve read it twice!
This is Kimberly’s second book belonging to her Southern Witch Series. It stands alone, but if you’re interested in how Mercutio became the heroine’s cat, I recommend starting with Would-Be Witch
. I suggest it simply because Mercutio plays such a “huge” role in the main character’s life.
What I love about this author is her ability to keep me guessing. Oftentimes, we can accurately surmise an upcoming scene, or even predict an ending. Not so, with Kimberly’s novels.
I recommend this novel to cat lovers, anyone who enjoys magic based stories, if you read paranormal romance, or love triangles.
Meet the heroine (Tammy Jo Trask) she’s a Texan witch, an unemployed pastry chef, and a woman who meets trouble at every turn. Her magic also goes awry, “every” single time she attempts to use it. Whoever said rules were meant to be broken, just accurately described the heroine.
In Barely Bewitched (WAM) the World Association of Magic thinks Tammy is a rogue witch. They’ve deemed her guilty of illegally using her magic. She now has only two choices. Enter the challenge which she’s not prepared for, or refuse and face either incarceration/extermination; whichever (WAM) chooses. This time around, Tamara’s life has never been more chaotic. When faery dust causes the entire town to act irresponsibly, and without inhibitions, it’s up to Tammy to set things right. Not an easy thing to do considering she still has to find her Aunt Mel’s emerald earrings, contact the family ghost (Edie), prepare for a challenge she’s sure to screw-up, cheat death repeatedly, and stay away from Bryn Lyons. (Easier said than done.) Tammy’s family insists he should be avoided at all costs, even (WAM) deems Bryn’s a wizard with ulterior motives. So if everyone warns her to run away from him, why can’t she stop kissing him? Maybe, it’s because he’s this gorgeous dark haired, blue-eyed wizard, who also happens to be a very wealthy lawyer.
This novel has several new characters, and two revelations. One, where we “finally” learn why Tammy’s magic always misfires.
Can Tamara save Duvall from themselves? Will she learn to ignore her ever growing attraction to Bryn? Even if he quotes Ovid the Roman poet? I must say, that was very sexy! This wizard has also been known to chant in Gaelic or Latin; temptation indeed!
Perhaps, I should also mention her ex-husband (Zach Sutton) who’s never really left her life. He’s one hunky Sheriff’s deputy, what’s a witch to do?
4 Star Rating
Buy: Barely Bewitched
The Berkley Publishing Group, Paranormal Romance, September 2009, Paperback, 312 pages. ISBN# 978-0-425-22961-3
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November 21st, 2009 — 1.5 Stars, Book Review, Business, Category, Contemporary, Gentry, Interracial, Love Triangle, Marriage of Convenience, Ranching, Rape/Abuse, S-U, South America, Virgin Heroine
MOC + second suitor + jealousy = win! Or… maybe not.
When a tour mixes up dates, Lian is stranded in Argentina with a minimum of Spanish. She takes a job as a hostess at a club only to find to her horror that a hostess is really just a polite word for prostitute. Help comes in the way of Ricardo who tells the owner and a client that Lian is his already for the night. He then proceeds to get her out of there and off to the nice hotel where he is staying.
His help come at a price. Lian must agree to a marriage of convenience or he’ll send her back to the club. Lian chooses marriage. Ricardo reveals he was bluffing. They marry and set off to his smallish plantation with a pit stop at the wedding of his half brother Carlos to prove he was wed first and retains all legal rights to the plantation.
Things progress semi-normally, at least for what one can expect from an older Harlequin. Then a acquaintance of Ricardo’s shows up. Lian is a little too friendly with Grant and earns a fierce rebuke from Ricardo. She defies him and maintains her overly friendly ways all the while attempting to figure out how to escape her MOC. When Grant suggests flight for the 8th time she agrees and off they go.
Ricardo tracks them down. Detains Grant and forces Lian back home where he proceeds to forcefully claim all his marital rights and tack on a required male heir stipulation before he’ll set her free. Martial rape… again. Why is this a consistent theme in older Harlequins/romances in general? Is this the only way a man is capable of sharing his “feelings” until the heroine cracks and says “I love you!”? Let me repeat this once again… rape is not romantic.
One of the better things in this novel was when the heroine rescued the hero at the end of the novel. The ending high is very nice.
Rating: 1.5 Stars
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November 10th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Big Misunderstanding, Category, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, G-I, Greece, Love Triangle, Mistaken Identity, Science, Teacher, Writer
This category romance would make a great farcical romantic comedy movie. Just keep reading and you’ll know what I mean.
The Bryants – Jane (heroine), Guy (brother)
The Dysons – Stuart (fiancé), Pauline (future sister-in-law)
Two pairs of brother and sister pretend to be married to each other in order to land a job on an archaeological site in Greece. The heroine is engaged to the brother of the other pair. Her future sister-in-law crushes hard on the site’s leading archaeologist. The dig boss and hero fights falling in love with the heroine. The only supposedly single man on the site falls hard for the future sister-in-law. The only one not romantically inclined is the brother of the heroine.
Sounds crazy? It was!
The hero, Dr. Nikolas Vallas, hates adulterers. He rides hard on the heroine, Jane Bryant, who he sees as the worse of the lot. Guy is either clueless to his wife’s behavior or doesn’t have the masculinity to reign her in or divorce her. Pauline is a creature to pity as she’s utterly clueless to her husband and best friend’s deception. Stuart is a cheating bastard. But Jane--- she takes the cake. She cheats on her husband, with her best friend’s husband, and the son of his long time friend, Tim.
Tim figures out the deception and what Nikolas perceives as more acts of adultery is in fact very innocent. Tim is using Jane as a sounding board for his attempts to win Pauline’s affections. Pauline however is mooning over Nikolas and doesn’t like Tim’s attention one bit. Jane meanwhile is reeling from something Tim said about love. He said something along the lines of “If you’re really in love, you couldn’t wait to be married.” Jane finds herself falling in love with a man who hates everything about her and seems to be falling in love with Pauline.
Petals Drifting is a very erroneous title for the plot. They’re there in the off season for tourists. It’s not fall. It’s more like spring. Anyway, the story is very tense, very quick, and solid. I devoured it.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Petals Drifting
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November 7th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, D-F, Great Britain, Journalism, Lawyer, Love Triangle, Plump/Endowed Heroine, Spinster
This is the first time I read the books. I admit I am a bad girl and watched the movies first. That said, I really liked the reader, Barbara Rosenblat, as she reminded me of the movie. Her voice for the mother was fabulous. It was airy, a bit ditzy, and a tad lofty. Her Bridget was cute, the voice and inflections similar to Renee Zellweger in the movies.
There was less cursing than you’d think considering the movie which was full of fucks. The most used curse word was probably bloody.
The book and the movie are very different:
- For instance in the book there was no mix-up of who cheated who’s wife. That’s a plus.
- However on the other hand there wasn’t a fight scene between Daniel and Mark, which really was a deliciously wonderful and sexy dorky scene. Boo.
- Also, Bridget’s mother’s new boy toy Hoo-lio (Julian) is a scam artist opposed to a home shopping sales rep.
- Richard, the television boss, is not a rescuing savior but a revoltingly nasal and crass man. There were elements of the ridiculous in the movie but not nearly as over the top as in the book.
- Sadly Mark never read her diary in the book as he did in the movie and the super cute ending with kiss in snow isn’t there either. They do share a cute ending though.
On another note, Hugh Grant must have a great sense of humor because he’s mentioned in this book for the prostitute thing and Bridget compares Daniel Cleaver to Grant. I busted a gut laughing. It is only funny because he ends up playing Daniel Cleaver in the movie.
Overall, I loved the book. In my opinion it is much better to get this as an audio book versus reading because I didn’t mind at all the cigarette, alcohol units, and calorie counting as I would have in reading it. I also would probably skipped them all after a certain point and missed the subtle humor in it.
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Buy: Bridget Jones's Diary
Buy on Audible.com: Bridget Jones's Diary
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November 6th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Category, Contemporary, D-F, Enemies, Love Triangle, Ranching, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Western
If you’re looking for a wonderful older romance, Boss Man From Ogallala
is just what you need.
With her father in hospital recovering from broken hip, Casey Gilmore is forced to accept the arrival of Flint McCallister to manage the family ranch. She does not want him there and is extremely put out by the attitude of the bank that forced the situation to happen. Any slight comment about female capability burns her hotter than a stick of dynamite about to explode.
Ranching is in the blood for Casey and Flint. They understand each other when it comes to passion for the land and way of life. When Casey finally accepts Flint’s presence the subdued attraction suddenly flames and both aren’t quite sure what hit them. Things won’t come easy though as Flint is sure Casey wants her childhood flame and she’s sure he doesn’t want her at all.
There’s a short scene where Casey and Flint argue and quite out of the blue (as you don’t see action like this in mainstream romances much anymore) Flint ends the argument by hauling Casey aside and spanking her. It was very jarring in the middle of an otherwise excellently written and delivered romance.
In addition, for all the ups and downs and verbal sparring in the novel, the end is a tad weak. While it was pretty good, I wanted and expected more fireworks as the hero and heroine worked their way through everything. As it were Dailey delivered sparks. A good gut-wrenching phrase or two would have picked the rating of this novel up.
Rating: 4 Stars
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August 21st, 2009 — About, Love Triangle
They are always two men and one woman.
I have never come across a Love Triangle in romance involving two women loving one guy where it’s a matter of serious deliberation for the hero. If there are two women, the non-heroine woman is easily distinguished by being a nasty piece of work. She’s possessive, catty, whiny, and more. As the scorned woman she almost always tries to get the heroine back for stealing the hero from her.
The question I ask and attempt to answer today is why is that the case?
The most obvious answer of course is that it is women who predominantly write romance and the two men/one woman plot is a common (enough) fantasy. The Love Triangle when set up this way is one of those type of plots that appeals to a number of our gender.
What (heterosexual/bisexual) female hasn’t at some point wished to be intensely desired by not one but by two gentlemen? You might be uncomfortable with the situation in real life, but the idea fuels your imagination in private. Their possessiveness, jealousy, and male posturing are a big turn on and the angst of having to choose the right one, of hurting the other is one, of messing everything up is secretly thrilling.
The other answer on why we prefer our Love Triangles to have the ratio they do is because we'd rather have two heroes over two heroines. For you see, the hardest part about reading a Love Triangle is that we didn’t write it ourselves. We don't know who the main lead will end up with and it drives us batty.
In the two men/one woman triangle set up the biggest challenge as the reader is choosing the hero the heroine will pick. We hold different opinions on what makes a good partner or the perfect hero. It’s quite possible as readers we’ll be split down the middle. Half will pick one hero and half the other.
If you pick the one the heroine doesn’t go for in the end you’re literally tearing your hair out and cursing the author as you turn the pages. If you pick the right hero and the heroine deliberates too long and too much you’ll be cursing the heroine for being a blind ninny and want to throttle her to get her to stop whining about having to choose being two great catches.
If the triangle was reversed with two women/one man we would struggle in a much different sense. As a reader I tend to identify with the heroine (other times I identify with the hero, read Bosoms to find out why). With two potential heroines to pick from, I would most likely choose the heroine that was closest to my own personality. Now suppose the author picked the other heroine for the hero... we get upset when we think the wrong hero is chosen, what would be our feelings if it was our chosen heroine who got thrown over? Yikes! Run and ducks for cover!
That’s why I think it takes a strong and gutsy writer to create and establish a feasible Love Triangle. It is easily the plot that causes the most wallbanging, head thumping, and under your breath muttering. Not to mention the death threats in the mail... 
What are your favorite romances involving a love triangle?
Photo Credits: Steve Wampler
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August 18th, 2009 — 4.5 Stars, ARC, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Entrepreneur, J-L, Love Triangle, Pregnant, Ranching, Scarred Hero, Soldier, United States of America, Western
I spent two days reading another bite your nails love triangle romance... I am such a glutton for punishment!
Of course, I cheated before starting. When it comes to Love Triangles, Jennifer Haymore changed my tune about spoilers. Now I am all for reading the last chapter to find out who gets with whom. Are you the same way or do you like to be spoiler free? Don’t worry I won’t share who wins the girl.
So once I knew who the ultimate hero was I started the book and immediately liked both heroes. Oh no! Like with the rejected man from A Hint of Wicked, I hope the rejected man from a Summer of Two Wishes gets his story too!
What’s fun about the Summer of Two Wishes, is that it’s a contemporary love triangle with a similar set up to A Hint of Wicked only this time the laws surrounding the situation are known. Even though they’re known, our heroine is still in for a hard decision!
Macy was desperately in love with her husband Finn Lockhart. She begged him not to join the army and go fight in Iraq but he was adamant that he would. Macy waited on tenterhooks for his safe return, but that was not to be the case. When officers came to her door with charred dog tags and their condolences, Macy’s world fell apart.
It takes a strong secure man to pull her out of her grief. His name is Wyatt Clark. They fall in love, get married and are celebrating their newlywed status (seven months) by trying to get pregnant and start their family. Life is good and Wyatt believes he’s the luckiest man alive until…
Finn Lockhart is recovered by Coalition forces and on his way home to reclaim his land and his wife. It’s a miracle, a dream come true and a nightmare all rolled in one.
Macy is now in what is called a putative marriage. She must dissolve one marriage by divorce (her’s and Finn’s) or by filing suit to declare one void (her’s and Wyatt’s). How is she ever going to pick between her past love and her new love?
Julia London does an absolutely incredible job putting together this contemporary love triangle. I love the settings, the heroes, the heroine, and the peripheral characters… yes even Finn’s mom!
Rating: 4.5 Stars.
Buy: Summer of Two Wishes
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July 20th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Acting, Book Review, Contemporary, G-I, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Love Triangle, Regency, United States of America
Do you hide your Austen movie DVDs so nobody will know you’re in love with Mr. Darcy? If so, then you might also benefit from a trip to Austenland. When Great-Aunt Carolyn dies, she leaves Jane Hayes with a nonrefundable reservation at an exclusive resort… that caters to women (and possibly men) with Austen fantasies.
Did Carolyn do this for Jane to kick her Darcy infatuation or to encourage it? Jane thinks it was done in hopes to give Jane freedom from her impossible daydream, but I think it was meant to help her stop getting in the way of her own Mr. Darcy.
When Jane arrives she’s immediately dubbed Miss Jane Erstwhile and forced to fork over all her modern clothes and gadgets. The first man she meets on the site is Theodore the gardener, his real name is Martin Jasper. He’s there to act as dance instructor, as nobody else was available. He’s tall, good looking, and inspires quite a bit of lust in Jane.
As she meets the lead actors and paying players, Jane dithers back and forth between being really into it and thinking it all a lark. Mr. Nobley is the most Darcy-like of the men and she finds him irritating and (a tad) boring (in the beginning) but undeniably sexy. She makes it her business to pick and poke fun in homes of eliciting conversation and smiles from him.
The novel revolves around her relation with these two men. Each of the chapters starts out with the details of one of her past relationships: how they met, what they did, and why they broke up. Parts of the narrative were frankly bizarre as I was reading it from third person heroine point of view and she sometimes referred to Erstwhile as if the woman wasn’t herself. It was like the author was getting in the way of the heroine.
Will finish by saying the ending was great – and I wouldn’t mind seeing this as a three hour BBC miniseries!
Rating: 3.5-4 Stars
Buy: Austenland
Find and buy more Shannon Hale novels.
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July 8th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, Convict, G-I, Love Triangle, Teacher, United States of America
If you’re in the mood for a cute, light, sweet, and fun read, Too Good to be True is for you. It’s a very chaste contemporary. There’s no sex. In fact the hero and heroine don’t begin to even get together until two thirds the way through the book. The book is full of witty dialogue and funny scenes.
Grace is in a no-win situation. Her ex-fiancé, Andrew, dumped her twenty days before their wedding. He’s now dating her youngest sister, Natalie. Ever the martyr, Grace puts up a good front. She is not over Andrew and she’s not going to get in the way of her sister’s happiness. It’s not like you can help when the big klabammy strikes. Still, it doesn’t mean she wouldn’t like to kick Andrew in the groin. He doesn’t deserve a gem like Natalie.
In the meantime to get everyone off her back and stop staring at her with pitying looks, Grace invents the perfect boyfriend. She’s done it in the past, but never was a situation more called for than right now. Enter Wyatt Dunn, feral cat rescuing pediatric surgeon.
A new neighbor arrives next door and his name is Callahan O’Shea. Of course their first meeting goes a little awry when she smacks him on the head with her hockey stick—what? He looked like a burglar! Turns out Callahan, sexy though he may be, is an ex-con. Definitely, not acceptable boyfriend material!
Higgins writes in a similar manner as Janet Evanovich with her Stephanie Plum novels. There are obviously some key differences besides series versus one-shot. Instead of a shockingly funny grandma, we get an appalling awful one. Instead of a long suffering mother dealing with her crazy daughter, we get a long suffering father who deals with his wife and her embarrassing nude art, etc.
There’s some weird drama at the end of the novel, which I feel was just thrown in to extend the book a few pages. Callahan gets all funny about Grace’s harmless little pastime of creating imaginary boyfriends. It was an over the top reaction to say the least.
Additionally, I got a little irritated by the dog, but dog lovers should be okay with Angus McFangus.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy: Too Good To Be True
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