January 10th, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Book Review, Dukes and Earls, Farming, Great Britain, Historical Romance, Kidnapping, P-R, Suspense/Thriller, Virgin Heroine, Widow or Widower
This lovely little book was a quick and delightful read. I was sad to finish it because it meant that I would have to let the leads Julian Ravenwood and Sophy Dorring go their own way. The novel starts out with Julian accepting Sophy’s refusal to marry him. The word was passed down to him through her grandfather and Julian is stunned. Little Sophy could not hope to make a better match and his offer was generous to the extreme. Determined to gain an audience with Sophy Julian contrives of a way to do so. He tracks her down and demands to know her requirements to marry him. She spouts of a few outrageous ideas and he agrees and adds a few of his own turning the tables and leaving Sophy stunned.
Julian is an earl and all that implies. He’s the epitome of the controlling domineering alpha male. He’s also a widower; his late wife drowned. Not that this was a hardship, there was something wrong with the woman. Elizabeth, the dead wife, was for the lack of a better word a nymphomaniac. She loved to cuckold Julian, especially since she didn’t want to marry him in the first place. She took what was warm and good inside Julian and killed it. After the second duel to defend her honor, Julian came to the realization that his wife was not virtuous and didn’t have any honor. He labeled all women susceptible to the madness and vowed never to risk his fool neck for a woman again, but he needs a wife to supply him an heir and Sophy as far as he’s concerned is as different from Elizabeth as night and day.
Sophy is a typical unusual female for her times, but in slightly new way. She’s not put together and far from sophisticated. Pieces of her clothing and accessories like ribbons and feathers are always askew. She loves to read (mostly herbals and a treatise on women’s rights). She doesn’t trust seduction or lust without love. The reason Sophy doesn’t trust a man’s passion is because her sister, Amelia, was seduced and killed by one man’s passion. Sophy thinks sex without love is the epitome of masculine ruthlessness. She has the ring of the man who seduced Amelia and plans to find him and ruin him.
When Julian corner’s her for her list of demands she begs of him three things. One, that she not be forced into the childbed right away or more accurately forced into the marriage bed. Julian promises her three months of leeway. This is acceptable to her because she’s loved Julian since she was 18 not that the fool would notice, panting after Elizabeth as he was. She hopes to make him love her in the time they are not sharing a bed. Two, she wants to control her inheritance. Julian counters that his quarterly allowance for her exceeds the money her grandfather will leave her, but she insists. Three, she wants no interference from him on what she can and cannot read.
Sophy was quite loveable as a character I thought; Julian on the other hand at times was not. While his motives are quite known he still comes off as stern, intractable, and unwilling to reach compromises not in his favor… he breaks his side of the bargain while Sophy always keeps hers and dares to get mad when Sophy questions his honor. Depending on the reader you might be tempted to throw the book because of his outlandish behavior. Also true, however, is that you might enjoy his high handedness. In addition Julian is protective and concerned for his new wife. By the end I was persuaded to like him, but he was definitely ridiculous at times. Perhaps that makes him flawed realistically. Grin.
Rating 3.5 to 4 Stars
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Originally posted 2008-12-19 19:25:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 31st, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, ARC, Comedy of Manners, Contemporary, Estranged, Executive, Great Britain, M-O
What would constitute an offer you can't refuse?
Is it money, glory and fame, mercy for a loved one, promises of everlasting passion...
For Lauren (whose gone by Lola since she was little) it's the first and she has to give up the last to get it. Mrs. Tennant, her boyfriend's mother, corners her at work and offers an outrageous sum of money for Lola to break up with her son. Naturally, Lola is hurt, furious, and promptly refuses. She loves Dougie with all her heart! They've made plans to be together forever! Mrs. Tennant, cool as a cucumber, sits patiently while Lola rants and raves and promises to tell Dougie everything. It becomes clear she's not getting through to Dougie's mum, and so Lola hops out of the car and takes the bus home.
Rattled and in need of comfort she calls her friend, who offers some practical advice for a teen. This is advice Lola doesn't want to hear and tries to call Dougie up at his hotel where he's staying while sorting out his housing for university that year. The woman behind the desk says he's gone out with a guy and two girls confirming the friend's words from before. Still Lola is determined to wait until she sees Dougie again to do anything rash. She loves him, they can get through this... but then Lola runs into her Dad upstairs and everything changes in an instant. Lola must do the impossible and give up the love of her young life to accomplish it.
Ten years later, Lola runs into Doug and his family again through some bizarre happenstance. Doug is shocked and angry; immediately distancing himself from Lola. When he finds out about the money shortly thereafter he's beyond angry. Lola in his eyes is scum. All Lola wants is to win him back... if only she could tell him why, but her sense of honor refuses to allow her this easy escape. She made a promise and she's going to keep it, even if it means losing Doug all over again.
I found Lola at 27 to still retain most of the naive 17 year old girl she'd been. She should have been more grownup I felt. I know it wouldn't be the same book if she'd come right out and told Doug why she took the money, but this was a point of contention for me. She stalks him too, not in the 'I'm outside your window watching you shower type' of stalking, but in the 'whenever I found out where you are or will be going I try to be there too' way. The older Doug showed no signs of weakening his resolve to ignore/hate Lola until the very end of the book, making the reunion a bit too hasty for me. It wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped.
There were times in the beginning of the book I was hoping Lola would fall in love with the second love of her life... the next door neighbor Gabe. He showed signs of knowing how she thought, what motivated her, did things for her (like sit and watch awful chick flick movies) and keep her in the front of his thoughts. Lola was also devastated with the idea of never seeing him again when he after a girl in Australia (it ended poorly, he came right home). In the end he's just a great male friend for Lola.
Overall I'd give it 3.5 to 4 stars.
Originally posted 2009-03-27 05:47:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 29th, 2009 — 2.5 Stars, A-C, Artist, Book Review, Category, France, Friends, Gentry, Regency, Rogues and Rakehells, Spinster, Travel, Virgin Heroine
This was one of those books where I had to slug my way through it. I don’t know why I had to slug but I did. I started and stopped this three times and finally finished it. Woohoo. I feel very accomplished.
One of the parts about this book that bothers me is that it’s first cousin romance. I’m not sure why this had to be the case. They grew up for the most part away from each other – so could they not have been childhood friends or perfect strangers? I suppose it is historically accurate as first cousin marriages took place among royalty of the time so why not the gentry, but it was more than a bit off putting.
Elinor is a dowdy bluestocking spinster. She acts as her mother’s secretary and artist as a way to escape the endless parade of pointless ballroom attendance. On a trip in France to study religious houses Elinor runs into Theo Ravenhurst. At first she doesn’t recognize him as her cousin, but pretty quickly that is sorted out.
As the two fight attraction, Theo is on a mission to recover an artifact that he purchased from a late Duke in the area. Theo manages to get himself, Elinor, and her mother invited to the new Duke’s chateau and conducts midnight searches. A near brush with death and subsequent flight throw the two into a night of wild passion but of course everything between them is so screwed up they only hear the words the other is saying not the meaning.
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Buy: The Disgraceful Mr. Ravenhurst
Buy eHarlequin: The Disgraceful Mr. Ravenhurst
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November 14th, 2009 — Writing Tips
For this article we're going to skip over the titillating parts about raging tumescence and disintegrating virginal barriers otherwise known as land of frankness and euphemisms. We won't be discussing weeping fluids, honey, dew, or the elixir of love. We're doing this American and bypassing all foreplay and going straight for the mechanics of making love/having sex.
Word choice says it all; how an author is feeling about their characters, what the characters are feeling, and what the readers will get from experiencing the passion vicariously. Compelling vocabulary attracts the reader and continued use keeps them involved while the use of bizarre or crass diction yanks readers out of the zone so fast it'll make the ink fly right off the page. Not good! How do you prevent that? Application of the appropriate kind of words! Well... that and variety! This is why I urge writers to make lists.
I've compiled my own list of terms and presented them here for the express purposes of sharing and expansion. Below you'll find a series of alphabetized words used in describing the physical movements and actions of mating by both men and women in literary sex. For the purpose of this list they are all presented in present participle form or aka the verb coupled with an ing. Of course in practical application they will have to be conjugated to the right tense.
Thrusting
- Breaching
- Burying
- Driving
- Easing
- Entering
- Feeding
- Filling
- Fitting
- Flexing
- Forcing
- Fucking
- Gliding
- Impaling
- Invading
- Joining
- Lunging
- Mating
- Mounting
- Moving
- Nudging
- Parting
- Penetrating
- Piercing
- Pinning
- Plowing
- Plunging
- Pressing
- Probing
- Prodding
- Pumping
- Punctuating
- Puncturing
- Pushing
- Ramming
- Riding
- Rocking
- Rooting
- Rutting
- Seeking
- Settling
- Shoving
- Sinking
- Slamming
- Sliding
- Slipping
- Spearing
- Stretching
- Stroking
- Stuffing
- Teasing
- Twitching
- Undulating
- Working
Opening
- Absorbing
- Accepting
- Arching
- Blooming
- Blossoming
- Clamping
- Clasping
- Clenching
- Clinging
- Clutching
- Contracting
- Cradling
- Drawing
- Enclosing
- Engulfing
- Enveloping
- Flowering
- Gathering
- Grasping
- Grinding
- Gripping
- Guiding
- Holding
- Hugging
- Inviting
- Keeping
- Locking
- Melding
- Melting
- Milking
- Molding
- Parting
- Pressing
- Pulling
- Pulsing
- Quivering
- Reaching
- Receiving
- Robbing
- Seeking
- Squeezing
- Taking
- Throbbing
- Trembling
- Tugging
- Urging
- Widening
- Wrapping
- Yielding
While this list is fairly comprehensive, it is by no means complete. That said, what words would you add? What have you come across on your own reading and writing adventures?
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Originally posted 2009-03-17 05:41:38. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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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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October 28th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Book Review, Contemporary, Interracial, Mistaken Identity, Paranormal, Regency, Revenge, S-U, Survival, Suspense/Thriller, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Werewolf, Widow or Widower
Terry Spear weaves paranormal, suspense, and romance together in one non-stop rollercoaster of passion and adventure. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying a protagonist werewolf plot (I’m more inclined to favor vampires) and a mystery thriller plotline (again not something I usually go for). I love this novel's front cover (hmm sexy). Don't you? This book reminds me a bit of Only With Your Love by Lisa Kleypas. Overall, there were many pieces that I enjoyed in this book and many pieces that I did not. Of course the story wouldn’t be the same story without the parts that I like least… and all the parts I’m not in favor of can be contributed to the dead sister Larissa.
Larissa is dead. How did she get there? Her living triplet Lelandi is in Silver Town to find out. Her discoveries show just how much of a royal mess Larissa made of her life. One of them (and this is what gets me) was to take Darien as her mate. Darien has a special gift to find his true soul mate through dreams. Larissa claims to be the one he dreams about while knowing the real woman of his dreams is her sister Lelandi. Talk about some sisterly backstabbing!
When Lelandi comes to town to find the truth, her very presence upsets and stirs Darien. He’s attracted to her as he never was for Larissa. He thought the dream mating must have reflected a truer connection than the physical one, which is why he always felt sort of bereft after making love to Larissa. After discovering who Lelandi is and what she really means to him, Darien vows to move heaven and earth to claim Lelandi as his mate.
Throughout the developing passion, Darien and Lelandi unravel the mystery surrounding Larissa’s last months in an effort to find her murderer. Lelandi soon becomes a target herself, but that doesn't deter her from seeking justice. The clues will reveal a most surprising culprit.
Rating: 3.5 Stars.
Book is categorized as interracial because of the pairing of two different breeds of werewolf... red and gray.
Originally posted 2009-03-02 05:23:03. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 27th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Arabia/Middle East, Book Review, Category, Contemporary, Executive, Interracial, Kidnapping, Kings, Princes, Sheiks, Chiefs, M-O, Pregnant, Sheik/Desert, United States of America
Points go to Sandra Marton for using a fairly unique way to go about the common pregnant bride plot. A screw up in courier running between two doctors’ offices and a sperm bank results in Madison Whitney receiving the Crown Prince of Dubaac’s safeguard for the future of his country.
Now one month later, Madison finds Turiq on her doorstep, literally barging his way into her apartment and demanding rights to the child – his heir. But Madison wasn’t taking his highhanded attitude or his bribe money to give up the baby a year after birth.
How much of a barbarian was he? Madison was about to find out – because Turiq was going to kidnap her and force her to be his bride. Was there no end to the madness?
I liked the story; it was nicely executed, but was lacking the emotional pull. There was passion and heat but everything was over too fast. I didn’t see or read it develop into the good stuff. There were hints and I’m sure if it was drawn out a little bit more everything would have fell into place with ease.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Buy on eHarlequin: The Sheikh's Defiant Bride
Originally posted 2009-02-11 13:59:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 6th, 2009 — About
Carly Simon was onto something when she claimed, “you're so vain
.”
What is romance, after all, but being (seemingly) attended to as you secretly think you deserve? ~Michael Sims reported by Bittergrace
That was one of the most interesting things I heard about romance in a long while. It made me think. Are our emotions wrapped up in vanity? Well, are they?
The more I thought about the more I was sure this statement was correct. I came away agreeing that attentiveness and falling in love go hand in hand.
You wouldn’t dream about ignoring someone you were interested in romantically or sexually. We obsess and we worry over the details. Was that smile a friendly one or a “I’m interested” one? Did he/she notice that huge blunder we just made? And so on.
We are flattered by attentions of others whether desired or not. I think this because we all want to be admired and noticed.
Romance novels allow readers to feel that thrill of attention, admiration, and chase over and over again. What’s better than falling in love? Other than chocolate which is a given.
The pursuit of love that is all consuming is so attractive because it’s so consuming. We crave to be consumed as much as we want to consume. To be wrapped up in our own little worlds; it’s thrilling and terrifying and tremendously tantalizing.
When the attention fades, so does the love. Rekindle both and you’re right there at the height of passion all over again.
What do you think? Do you dis/agree?
Photo Credits: John Everett -- Millais
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September 17th, 2009 — Contests
Sorry some of these are late, it plum left my mind, but I’m on top of my game now! The last three contests and their winners:
Terry Spear’s It’s Not Just About the SEX! winner is…
#9 chris swan
Prize: 1 set of 2 books: Heart of the Wolf and To Tempt the Wolf.
Rebecca Ann Collins’ Regency: Love, Romance, and Passion! winner is…
#1 Andrea and Jennifer who kindly gave up their prize to ... BETH!
Prize: 1 set of 2 books: The Pemberley Chronicles (Book 1) and My Cousin Caroline (Book 2).
My: BBAW: Reading Meme winner is…
#5 Alicia H
Prize: 2 Surprise Harlequins.
Congratulations! I will be contacting the winners about their prizes. If you miss the email mine is reviewromancenovel@yahoo.com
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September 7th, 2009 — Guest Blogger, Paranormal, S-U, Werewolf, Western
by Terry Spear, guest blogger
I work in a library, and recently, we’ve had a lot of middle-aged women coming in looking for Zane Grey novels. Normally, it’s just a bunch of old guys who love reading the westerns. So I was curious as to what this was all about.
Now, originally, the books were serialized in a paper, and the Mormons edited out all the sexy stuff. I didn’t know the old westerns had anything wild in them, except maybe gunslingers and Indians. So when the patrons were looking for the unabridged books, not the censored ones, I had to ask, “What is the difference?”
The ironic thing is these patrons normally would not read a hot, sexy romance. So why are they now dying to read a very old western that has a lot of sex in them? Now I haven’t read them so I’m going by what our manager says about them. It’s just about the sex, not romance.
But in MY books, sex is not what makes the story, even though mine are sexy. It’s about the characters and how they care about each other. It’s the LOVE, ROMANCE, and PASSION.
The physical attraction, and for my werewolves, like the ones I feature in To Tempt the Wolf (in stores now!), the scent of the individual—since they’re based on real wolves—is what begins the interest in each other. Whether they fall in love during the course of the story, or it’s love at first sight, we still need a lot of conflict to impede the journey of their making a commitment to each other by the end of the book.
The passion between the characters, even if it’s a sweet romance and there are shuddered looks—but the interest is definitely there—is what makes for a romance.
And the commitment to each other shows the love between two people.
I thought the women who were checking out the Zane Grey novels were picking them up for their husbands to read. Now I know better. 
And when the books are turned back in, I’ll have to check one out and see for myself what they’re all about. The researcher side of me, you know.
But I thought it was an interesting commentary on readers. That those who wouldn’t be caught dead reading a romance, want to read something with hot sex in it. Give me a romance any day where men and women struggle through a myriad of difficulties, but throughout that time, they share a passion for one another, and in the end make that commitment for all time.
So if you like THAT kind of story, join me in a sizzling romance where love and passion between werewolves rule the day!
And you can find me here if you want to join me:
So my questions are: Have you read Zane Grey’s novels (or novels that are solely about sex)? And what makes a couple’s romance real?
Terry Spear
“Giving new meaning to the term alpha male.”
To Tempt the Wolf—In Stores September 1
In this third in the series, wildlife photographer Tessa Anderson must prove her brother innocent of murder charges. But when she discovers a gorgeous naked man barely alive on her beach, she's got a new world of troubles to deal with, not least of which is how he affects her with just a look, a touch, or a whispered word.
Hunter Greymore is a lupus garou, a grey werewolf. Hoping to keep a low profile at Tessa's cabin on the coast, he's drawn into her life—and into her bed. His animal instincts war with his human half, but in the end, the only thing he can do about this fascinating, adorable woman is to leave her forever —unless she becomes one of them.
Buy: To Tempt the Wolf
About the Author
A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, award-winning author Terry Spear has an MBA from Monmouth College. An eclectic writer, she dabbles in the paranormal as well as writing historical and true life stories for both teen and adult audiences. Spear lives in Crawford, Texas. Her 2008 Sourcebooks Casablanca release, Heart of the Wolf was named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly. Destiny of the Wolf and To Tempt the Wolf are in stores now, and more are on the way: The Legend of the White Wolf (February 2010) and Seduction of the Wolf (August 2010). For more information please visit www.terryspear.com
Giveaway: Terry Spear and Sourcebooks are offering up 1 set of 2 books: Heart of the Wolfand To Tempt the Wolf to one lucky commenter. To enter answer Terry's question up above about Zane Grey, tells us why you love werewolves, and/or why you like romance. Be sure to come back and comment often! Winner will be announce on September 14th, 2009.
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April 28th, 2009 — About, Author Interviews
I sent out a query on Twitter to romance authors and readers if they'd be interested in answering two quick questions. These two questions are ones that I personally love to ask romance authors when I interview them because the answers are always different and unique even though both deal with emotion and passion. It's inspiring really to see how they can be defined. Below are the questions and their responses; how would you answer them?
How do you define love?
Leigh Ellwood: I see love as the feeling in your heart, somewhere between softening and swelling, you experience when you are near your partner. No matter how they look, what they are wearing, or how long you've been together - you still get that tingle when you kiss and that itching desire to grab 'em!
Carolyn Jewel: A deep and abiding respect and admiration (since I can't use the word "love"). Two people who are aware of each other's flaws and find it makes little to no difference.
Rai-mon Nemar: Love is - Thinking to yourself "if you just act on your dreams you'll rule the world", and yet you're actions are consistently made with someone else's well being in mind.
Love is - When you feel as though your personal and professional pursuits wouldn't have had as much meaning without that someone who's traveled the journey with you. They might even be worthless.
Love is - Not an emotion! It is a choice you make daily to stay the course and live your life with someone and know you'll be better for it.
What makes a great bedroom scene?
Leigh Ellwood: I like a slow build-up, a painfully teasing undress and kisses that explore the skin like a roadmap. I like dialogue, too. Sex doesn't have to be a mute activity. Where there is communication, it only ramps up the sex appeal.
Carolyn Jewel: There must be something at risk, something changed between them afterward. If your characters aren't risking anything emotionally through their intimacy, then it's just boring. Every bedroom scene has to change the relationship between the characters. This can include making things seem even worse, by the way. Intimacy does not always equal happy ever after, especially early on in a relationship. It's not only about who's touching who where. The best bedroom scenes never, ever lose focus on the emotion, even when one of the characters thinks there isn't any.
Rai-mon Nemar: I'd say it's like it real life. It's all about the foreplay and more importantly the anticipation. Then "learning" how the person reacts to the certain things you do. Kissed this (nothing), touched that (nothing) bit her fat (she sucked her teeth for almost a minute like bacon sizzling) hopefully you know what I mean.
To read other responses to these questions, check out Love Romance Passion's additional author interviews.
If you are the owner of a review blog or are a romance author and are interested in participating in this survey please send your responses (and links) to Keira: reviewromancenovel at yahoo dot com.
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Originally posted 2008-12-30 05:01:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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