March 3rd, 2010 — 3.5 Stars, Contemporary, G-I, Guest Reviews, Pilot, Survival, United States of America, Widow or Widower
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By: Marcia, guest reviewer
Bailey Wingate is living what many would believe to be a charmed life in Seattle, but she has problems. Not that she is complaining. She knows that she is fortunate. Having grown up impoverished, she became the personal assistant to James Wingate, a wealthy businessman and father of two extremely self absorbed, spoiled, greedy, adult children. After James' wife died, he realized that his own will had not been updated since his children where very young. He also realized that turning over large estate to these two irresponsible people was not advisable. While in the process of setting up trust funds for his children, James found out he was terminally ill. He then approached his assistant, Bailey.
Bailey is now the widow of James in full control of all of his assets and his children's trust funds. She did not inherit any of the estate, but is paid a very handsome salary. She also has use of several homes. Seth and Tazmin Wingate are unaware of all the particulars of the father's arrangement with Bailey. All they know is that she controls their money.
Cameron Justice is part owner of J&L Executive Air Limo along with his best friend, Bret. Their largest client is the Wingate Group. He is a former Air Force pilot, calm and steady when under fire. Due to a series of unfortunate events, he is awakened early in the morning and asked to fly Bailey to Colorado where she is scheduled to meet her brother and sister-in-law and go on a white water rafting vacation. Early morning call not withstanding, Cam is not happy about having to fly Bailey anywhere. He thinks that she is a cold, haughty snob. Bailey thinks the same of Cam and they get off on the wrong foot when, while loading her luggage onboard, he appears to be critical of all the supplies she has brought with her.
As they are approaching snow-capped mountains in Idaho, the plane's engines shut down. Only Cam's flying ability keeps them from slamming into the rocky peaks. He is able to bring the plane down to the tree line hoping to cushion their fall. The wing is torn off and tree limbs come into one side of the plane. Both Bailey and Cam are knocked out. When Bailey regains consciousness, she discovers that Cam's injuries are worse then hers. The temperature is below freezing and she must take care of Cam and build them shelter until Cam recovers. Not surprisingly, all the clothing and supplies she packed come in handy. They have to put their differences aside to survive and having to sleep together in order to conserve heat doesn't hurt the road to love.
Linda Howard has researched her subject thoroughly. The detailed airplane crash and survival scenes add realism and drama to a humorous and sensual romance combining into a great summer read.
Rating: 3 ½ Stars
Buy: Up Close and Dangerous
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Originally posted 2008-12-05 17:04:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 3rd, 2010 — 5 Stars, Book Review, Guest Reviews, J-L, United States of America
By: Marcia, guest reviewer
Have you ever had an experience so disheartening that you want to go to bed and pull the covers over your head? That is what Julia Darrow is doing with her life, although she may not see it that way. She lives and works in Lambert Square, a renovated factory space that has turned boutique. Located in South Carolina, it is inhabited by colorful small town characters each possessing qualities necessary for the success of this supportive, caring community. Julia owns high-end linens boutique named Cocoon where she and her employees wear pajamas. Where is Prince Charming to kiss this Sleeping Beauty?
Enter John Dodge, a successful entrepreneur, who travels around the country buying failing businesses, moving on once he has turned them around. He has just come to Lambert Square after purchasing a collectible fountain pen store sight unseen. Julia intrigues him and the feeling is mutual. As the story unfolds, their emotional baggage is exposed and we learn their secrets.
Although not from the south, Rosina Lippi uses her love for language to weave a rich, tightly woven tapestry of words that accurately describes southern speech patterns, values, habits and expectations. Lambert Square is charming place and the characters that live there have depth and integrity. You will want to visit often.
5 Stars
The goal of LRP is to share and express opinions on romance novels. The aim is to sort out the best from the mediocre and to provide a full list of recommendations across many genres and authors. If you would like to contribute to this growing forum, please see the guidelines to writing a review.
Originally posted 2008-11-25 21:11:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 7th, 2009 — Author Interviews, Contemporary, Historical Romance, Paranormal, Regency, S-U, Vampire
I can't think of a better way to start the weekend off than with an author interview with romance writer Lynsay Sands. I got the opportunity to pose a series of questions about her writing and tips and advice for new writers. Her responses are a joy to read! Thank you again, Lynsay for interviewing with us, and now on with the interview!
LRP: So first question, what do you enjoy doing besides writing?
Lynsay: Walking and nature. Luckily the two things go together.
LRP: You like to write paranormal romance on top of historical. What do you think is the appeal of vampires?
Lynsay: Actually, I just like to write, period. I don't prefer any genre. I have written medieval, regency, vampires and shape shifters. I've also written contemps and will do so again. I wouldn't mind trying my hand at horror too, although I don't think I write dark enough. My horror would probably be black comedy rather than strict horror.
As for the appeal of vampires, I can't really answer that, that's not what it's about for me. With the Argeneaus it was the family and the situations that appealed to me. The vampire stuff was just handy as a problem of sorts, something that was both a blessing and a little bit of not-so-much-a-blessing at the same time. These are people who just happen to be vampires. They still have the same issues everyone else does.
LRP: How do you decide on character names and book titles?
Lynsay: That is the hardest and most important part for me. The names usually have a lot to do with their character for me and when I say I struggle at the beginning of writing a book, the name is part of what I'm struggling with. I can change the name several times until I find the character and the name that suits them.
As for book titles . . . I suck at those and my editor is always changing them. The Accidental Vampire is one of the few they didn't change.
LRP: What is your advice to would-be authors?
Lynsay: Write what you enjoy and do it for your own pleasure. Do not go into writing for the money, or even thinking you'll make any. Most writers don't make much money. I've been lucky of late and can work at only this, but most writers have to continue to work a day job throughout their career. And this is HARD work. Believe me. At least it is for me. I work long hours. It isn't just the writing you have to do. You come into it thinking it will just be writing your stories, but there is the writing of the book, the corrections, the proofs, the fan letters, the promotional stuff they want you to do, etc. etc.
And then it isn't like accounting or engineering where if you get it right, it's just right across the board. Writing is more subjective and a story is NEVER just right. You can't please everyone and there is ALWAYS going to be someone who hates your story and seems to delight in telling you that. Even those who like them overall, may criticize the pants off you for something. That is life as a writer. You either develop a thick skin quickly, or . . . So make sure you love it if you're going to give it a go.
LRP: How long does it take you to write a novel on average? What work took the shortest amount of time and what book gave you the most trouble?
Lynsay: Usually a month for the first round, I tend to write them straight through. The fastest I've ever written one was two weeks. That was my first book, The Deed. The one that gave me the most trouble was A Quick Bite. It was my first book for a new publisher and I was a bit anxious (read panicking like CRAZY) so I really struggled with it.
LRP: How do you handle writer's block? (Or better still... coffee or tea?)
Lynsay: Tea . . . and sometimes coffee. As for writer's block, moving work to a coffee shop and writing there by hand in a notebook usually loosens things up.
LRP: What is your favorite aspect of writing?
Lynsay: Finishing it. LOL. That's not really true, though sometimes it is a relief to print them up and send them out. There are several aspects of writing that are great. Working from home is one. My commute is a short walk to the sunroom and I can go there in pjs or a toga if I like (grin).
Making my own hours is nice too, although with me, I tend to not know when to stop, I just work around the clock which isn't good. But I guess the stories themselves are my real favorite part. I am experiencing them as I write them. It's kind of like reading them but it takes longer and involves more work (grin). However, I laugh, or smile my way through the stories, and sniffle at the occasional touching scenes too and for me, that's probably the best part. I get to enjoy the stories as I write them, and I write exactly what I enjoy. I'm just lucky others seem to enjoy them too.
LRP: What do you think makes a good bedroom scene?
Lynsay: I'm not sure. I've been told I write them well, but I'm not sure that's true and if so why it is. I have a friend who has a real struggle with the sex scenes. I think she thinks too much. She seems to think people will think it's her sex life she's writing about, so she gets all self-conscious and is very stiff when writing them. I don't get caught up in that. For me the beginning of the book is where I struggle. I can often write the first chapter or two twenty or more times. I've come to realize that what's happening then is I'm getting to know my characters. Once I have a handle on them (how they think, feel, react, etc) the stories usually flow after that and become a film in my head that I'm just typing up as quickly as I can, sex scenes and all. That gives me a certain amount of distance from it all I guess and less self-consciousness than others might suffer.
LRP: What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?
Lynsay: I hope they get an escape from their everyday lives, a chance to relax and hopefully smile if not laugh. I don't aspire to write something that makes them stop and think or changes their views on anything, I just think life is tough and we all need a break from it and I hope my books give readers the opportunity to do that
LRP: Thank you again Lynsay, for taking the time to answer all my questions.
Lynsay is really friendly and welcomes questions. Be sure to visit her website @ http://www.lynsaysands.net/.
Lynsay also writes a blog, which you can visit @ http://lynsaysands.spaces.live.com/.
Don’t miss out on her upcoming vampire novel this fall: The Rogue Hunter (Argeneau Vampires, Book 10)
.
What's your favorite book by Lynsay Sands?
Originally posted 2008-11-23 19:17:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 2nd, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, Movie Reviews
I thought to start something new at RRN. I love romantic comedies and I have an entire collection of them so why not add movie reviews to the blog over the weekends as a refreshing break from novel reviews. Feel free to submit your own movie reviews at reviewromancenovel[@]yahoo[.]com.
The movie I've chosen to start us out recently came out on DVD. When I saw it in theaters I thought my best friend would just die! The heroine's name was her own and she had two beaus one a sexy NYC devil and the other a true Highlander, bagpipes and all. I was right!
Patrick Dempsey plays Tom Bailey the lovable schmoozer, who when in college invented the coffee collar and got into bed with the wrong girl. Hannah, played by Michelle Monaghan, is full of sass and her first act on finding Tom in her bed is to spray him with perfume right in the eyes. She follows the act by telling Tom that he's ugly in artistic terms and leaves him to her very drunk roommate.
After that it seems they were inseparable and the story picks up again at the start of a typical (Sun)day for them. Coffee, art, walk in central park, desserts at the best bakery in the city, oh and of course shopping for a wedding gift for another one of Tom's father's weddings... he's on five, six, seven? Both Tom and his father are very wealthy.
At the end of the wedding montage, Hannah announces the job offer to acquire paintings from Scotland. Tom urges her to accept and discovers that it'll be six Sundays before he'll see her again. We watch him bungle through them in mindless and sometimes desperate acts until he comes to the conclusion we as watchers have always known - he loves Hannah.
Unfortunately for Tom, he finds out the night he plans to tell her of his affections that she's going to marry someone else. This someone she met in Scotland and he's as perfect as any male can be. Poor Tom, how can he compete? To make matters worse Hannah asks Tom to be her maid of honor and that's when the story really kicks off and we discover if Tom is made of honor or selfishness. Can he love her enough to fight for her? Does he love her enough to let her go?
There were a few moments of ridiculousness that were over the top, the sex humor was funny and only a little gregarious, there was the obligatory bathroom scene in the male locker room but I laughed at it instead of thinking 'oh jeez, another one?' The chemistry between Dempsey and Monaghan was terrific and the whole cast was excellent. So pop the popcorn and kick up your heels to a Scottish tune and enjoy a night of tomfoolery - pun intended.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Originally posted 2008-09-21 17:22:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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August 29th, 2008 — Contests, Georgian, Highlander
Hello and good morning readers! This post is going to be a short break from our usually scheduled programming to update everybody on the blog. There are a few new features up in the header, LRP's forum and contests are now their own section.
The forum is ready to go. We’re still in the process of editing it to fit the rest of LRP’s color scheme, but it is now available for readers to use! There are several sections including one for site notices, in which information like this post will be kept instead of stated on the blog. Use LRP’s forum to start group readings, trades and exchanges, discussion on blog posts, books, authors, yourselves. Find others like you who love romance novels!
The contest section will keep a list of all the contest winners. Speaking of contests, we have a new one! I got in contact with Teresa Medeiros a short time ago for an interview. Sadly, she is very busy and could not complete one with LRP at this time. However, she did send me a signed autographed copy of her novel Some Like It Wicked
!
The inside cover reads, “Dare to Dream! – Teresa Medeiros”
If you would like to be the lucky receiver of this romance novel enter the Teresa Medeiros Blog Giveaway Contest. Details below!
Teresa Medeiros Blog Giveaway Contest - Rules of Submission:
- Read and review a romance novel written by Teresa Medeiros between now and Sunday, September 14th, 2008. Submit to reviewromancenovel[at]yahoo[com].
- Review must be at least 250 words long and be entirely unique content. Unique content is defined as content not seen on another website.
- Accepted reviews will be posted as they are received onto the blog.
- Reviews on previously posted novels by Teresa Medeiros do not count. Make sure to keep an eye out on the posts coming out between now and Friday the 22nd of September as this rule includes them.
- Clarification of rule above: Should more than one review of the same novel be received before time of posting, both will be posted and count as eligible submissions.
- Previous winners are eligible for this contest as winners are chosen at random.
Odds of winning are dependent on the number of eligible submissions received.
Winner will be declared Monday, September 15th, 2008, and must leave a comment on the post before midnight east coast time, nine at night west coast time.
Good luck and many happy readings!
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