December 11th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Children, Gardening, Great Britain, Historical Romance, P-R, Spinster, Virgin Heroine, Widow or Widower
To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn was a fairly decent story. There were times in the story when I wondered if the main characters would ever fall in love before the pages ran out. The sex scenes were scrumptious and more than counter balanced the long wait to get to them. Also the scenes where Eloise's brothers participate are quite hilarious from when they darken Phillip's doorstep to when Eloise joins them in a shooting contest.
Sir Phillip was in desperate need of a wife. Since Marina's death, Phillip had come to the conclusion that he wanted his wife to be happy, not melancholy like Marina. Plus his two children were out of control and he had no idea how to handle them. So what he really needed was a mother for them and who better than a desperate spinster?
Of course, poor Phillip had no idea that Eloise Bridgerton had turned down half a dozen proposals. By his letters, Sir Phillip seems the perfect man so when his daring invitation to visit him in the country arrived; Eloise made plans to escape her overprotective family.
Upon her arrival to Sir Philip's home, Eloise is bitterly disappointed. Why Phillip could hardly speak to her! He was a grumpy moody sort, not at all the dashing charmer she'd pictured. He certainly never mentioned his two children in their letters! Reluctant to turn around and go home with her tail between her legs, Eloise decides to stay and stick it out to see if the two of them would suit.
Warning: This book contains mentioning of child abuse. While one can never call child abuse lightweight, it was not graphic. The nanny, Nurse Edwards, was caught beating the children with a book and action was taken.
Rating: 3 Stars
Buy: To Sir Phillip, With Love
Originally posted 2008-12-02 14:44:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 6th, 2009 — Writing Tips
Sex scenes are hard - pun intended. They've become nearly essential to a good romance. Writing one that is believable and heated can require a lot of effort. If you're uncomfortable it shows and turns off readers. So where does one start? By remembering that the sex scenes are for and about your characters and not yourself.
1. Don't use medical terms if you can avoid them.
Nobody wants to read about vaginas and penises. Nothing can be more jarring than that. Of course crazy euphemisms hurt the story flow also. Pronouns however are great. Use both subjective and objective particularly!
Consider:
"He entered her swiftly" is hotter than "His penis entered her vagina swiftly." It's also better than "His pink cigar entered her taco swiftly."
Notice how the euphemisms were taken to the extreme. That was to prove a point because clefts, feminine deltas, meat, and poles can be equally weird in a situation. Use with discretion.
Conclusion: Readers want to be able to slip into the fantasy. Let them!
2. Reflect and record.
What attracts you to sex scenes in other romance novels?
Make a list of what you find and have found sexy in other authors' writing. Keep this list handy so you can refer to it while writing. Think of it as inspirational reminders. Be sure to try to include the list in your own work. Just don't turn this into a formula as that won't help. Formulized sex scenes read flat, underdeveloped, and are forgettable.
If you can't think of anything for your list, remember that sex is explored through all the senses. You can start there and flush out the scene accordingly.
Conclusion: Formulaic sex scenes are crap, but having a list of good sex scene qualities that appeal to you will go a long way.
Continued in Part Two.
Photo Credit: 1
Originally posted 2009-02-24 23:47:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 4th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Blind, Book Review, D-F, Erotica, Friends, Gentry, Historic America, Scarred Hero, Soldier, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Wartime
I recently finished the audio book version of the Land of Falling Stars. This Civil War erotica loosely brings to mind Gone with the Wind
with Rhett, Ashley, and Scarlett… only this time played out by Gavin, Jesse, and Sophia. Gavin and Ricochet were my two favorite characters. So scrumptious! (Gavin not the dog.) My least favorite was probably Sophia from the good guy team; she was so hot and cold and acted very childish on several occasions, which made it hard to like her. The story did include one of my favorite character flaws: blindness. Several yummy sex scenes occur throughout the blindness of Sophia.
Gavin returns to Arbor Rose with terrible, soul-wrenching news. He must deliver this news to his childhood love Sophia and he doesn’t know how he can do it. Haunted by what he’s done in the war, Gavin knows he faces censure at home not only because he chose to fight for the Yanks but also because he is Jesse’s murderer. It doesn’t matter if it was in the middle of battle and he didn’t know who he was aiming at – the outcome was the same. Jesse, Sophia’s fiancé, was dead by his hand.
Mistaking Gavin for another cruel heartless Yank, Sophia shoots him on sight only to learn it’s her childhood friend and protector come back from war. Horrified by what she’s done, Sophia races to his side and nurses him back to health. It’s been months and months since she’s heard from Jesse, and all the while she’s with Gavin she can’t help forgetting the perfect man her father found her for the scarred and imperfect flesh and blood man before her. Terribly confused by her attraction for Gavin, Sophia wavers and falls, then returns to teetering and vacillating and questioning with several relapses while trying to sort out her feelings for the man she was supposed to love and marry, and the man she can’t live without.
Rating: 3.0 Stars
Get the audio version here.
Originally posted 2009-03-21 05:33:43. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 1st, 2009 — Author Interviews, Erotica, J-L
LRP: I just read Market For Love and I was impressed by your details of the work atmosphere. Granted I have no background in finance America, you could have said anything and I would probably buy it, but that's not the point. What you did write was entirely believable for me as a reader. So my question for you is how do you go about researching topics like corporate America to be able to include it into your writing?
Jamaica: -----I actually worked in Corporate America as a professional writer and editor for many years---including in Chicago's LaSalle Street financial industry----so it is actually very easy for me to write books in that setting. I mostly wrote Market For Love based on my own experiences as a single woman working in the man's world of finance, so very little independent research was needed for this particular book.
LRP: There were some pretty hot and heavy sex scenes in Market For Love in which your writing never faltered. I take it you're pretty comfortable writing about it. In your opinion what makes a great bedroom scene?
Jamaica: ----I think a great bedroom scene (or sex scene, since very few of the sex scenes I write take place in actual bedrooms) involves three major things. First, there has to be a lot of dramatic and sexual tension leading up to the scene itself, and you have to establish that through the story's plotline and characterizations. Second, you need to describe the sex acts in great detail, frankly, and without embarrassment. Third, there needs to be a payoff----and not just in terms of giving the characters orgasms. There has to be a satisfying sexual payoff for the reader as well. A well-written sex scene is really a ménage a trois between the man, the woman, and the reader.
LRP: That's a very savvy statement! I'll back you up on that one! Now Miranda and Max are some pretty solid names, easy to get behind because they're not so far off the wall. Plus the alliteration helps I think. How did you decide their character names and naming characters in general?
Jamaica: ----You know, I usually just name my characters at random. Whatever names pop into my head are usually the ones I use. I also am pretty lucky in that I seem to have a talent for writing characters that live up to their names, too. On the rare occasion that I find myself looking up names in a baby book or something, it's usually to name minor characters. I never have any difficulty naming my heroes and heroines.
LRP: I like to ask authors this question about the genre: what do you think is the most abused aspect of or in romance novels?
Jamaica: -----I think a major weakness of most "sweet" romance novels is the fact they leave the sex out. One reason I'm so drawn to writing erotica is because it leaves the sex in without asking the reader to fill in their own details. Don't get me wrong----I still like a good non-erotic romance novel----but there still needs to be at least some sex and/or sensuality in order for it to appeal to me. Even Jane Austen understood the importance of sex in romance-----all of her heroines are quite sensual, even though her books make no direct mention of sex.
LRP: Now it's time for a really tough question, no answer is wrong here so don't be shy. How do you define love?
Jamaica: ----I define love as an emotion that has no conditions. Someone who truly loves you accepts you just as you are, warts and all, and doesn't expect you to "change" for him/her. And true mutual acceptance is an important part of sex, too.
LRP: Why did you decide to write romance instead of writing in another genre?
Jamaica: -----I actually do write in other genres besides romance. I write romance more than anything else because I love the genre. But more than that, I just love a good story.
LRP: What are some challenges you face when writing romance?
Jamaica: ----I think the biggest challenge is the inaccurate perceptions many people have of the romance genre. So many people dismiss romance as "trash" when in fact 53% of all the books published every year in English are romance novels. The entire publishing industry is dependent on the revenue generated by the romance genre, in fact. And that's quite enlightening, considering too many writers in other genres think they are somehow "above" it. Romance (and indirectly, erotica) go all the way back to Jane Austen, and anybody who disses Jane Austen answers to me!
Plus, there's a very time-honored literary tradition when it comes to erotica as well----D.H. Lawrence, Anais Nin, Henry Miller, even James Joyce wrote erotica. The longstanding literary tradition of erotica is what I focus upon whenever people try to criticize me for choosing to write it. There's also a pretty vocal subset of romance authors who really look down upon erotica authors, even treat them with open hostility----which I don't think makes sense at all when you consider how intertwined sex is with romance.
LRP: What do you hope your readers will gain from your books?
Jamaica: ----I hope they enjoy a good story, have their hearts set aflutter, and get a little turned on. And also learn something in the process.
LRP: What do you do to relax and get away from writing? Is there something that really gets you away from it all?
Jamaica: ----I enjoy spending time with my husband and 1-year-old son. I also enjoy reading, working out, sewing, painting, and gardening.
LRP: What would you say to aspiring writers about the whole process?
Jamaica: -----"Just Do It!" Make time to write every day. Make writing an integral part of your life. Because if your goal is to become a working novelist, you will have deadlines and financial obligations that will require you to write every single day in order to make a living. Career novelists usually have to write about 2,000 words a day to make their deadlines. And writing 2,000 high-quality, PUBLISHABLE words a day, every day, takes time, commitment, and a hell of a lot of stamina.
LRP: Thank you so much for joining with us today Jamaica, I really appreciate your time! I know my readers will be grateful for all your insights and advice! Good luck with all your future writing projects!
Jamaica keeps a blog and you can get all her updates at http://jillelainehughes.blogspot.com/ or catch up with her on her author website.
Originally posted 2008-11-20 05:22:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 29th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Contemporary, Guest Reviews, Handicap, S-U, Sports, United States of America
By: Cara Lynn, guest reviewer
I was visiting friends, and this book was sitting on the coffee table. In spare moments I picked it up to read. I had not heard of the author before, yet the book jacket intrigued me, telling that Jill Shalvis' books are well received and making the story seem interesting.
The plot revolves around two people each suffering their own hurts and in need of each other, though they don't know it. Katie Kramer was in a horrific auto accident, the only survivor of a bridge collapse, and has flashbacks nightly in her dreams. Cameron Wilder, in a moment's lack of attention because he was thinking of his girlfriend's cheating, suffers an injury that ends his career as a snowboarder.
Katie feels she must make changes in her life and begin to live life as if it were an adventure, for she knows only too well how quickly it could end. She takes a temporary job in the Sierras for an outdoor adventure business, Wilder Adventures and Expeditions. She has no intention of staying, but plans to move on to her next adventure. Cam shows up in the middle of the night, after being estranged from friends and family, suffering pain, both mental and physical, and finds her in his bed.
And so it begins.
She gets under his skin. She knows just the right way to get past his defenses, learning slowly of his accident and what makes him tick. He's never cared to explain himself to anyone before, not even his family.
Along the way, there is an assorted cast of other characters, including his brother and his aunt -- and his ex-gf. There is both humor and poignancy in the book, and very, very good (and believable) sex scenes as the two fall in love and decide where their lives will go from here.
Perhaps they offer each other both salvation and adventure that will last a lifetime.
I'm going to read another of her books.
Rating: 4 Stars
Share with Love Romance Passion your latest read! Learn about our review submission guidelines here.
Originally posted 2009-03-13 05:17:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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November 18th, 2009 — 4 Stars, ARC, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Erotica, Guest Reviews, Lycanthrope, Native American, P-R, Paranormal, Rape/Abuse, Scarred Hero, United States of America, Working with Land
by Susan S., guest reviewer
Soul of the Wildcat is a wild and hot erotica! Devyn’s sexy Native American shifters will leave you breathless. I recommend this book to erotica readers.
She’s ♀
Dakoda Jenkins, a ranger working in North Carolina’s South Mountains State Park. Her assignment, is to stop the poachers from capturing the Eastern Cougars.
He’s ♂
Jesse Clawfoot, a Native American belonging to the Tlvdatsi; a tribe of the Cherokee Nation. He wandered too far from his reservation in search of a mate; when he scents a female.
They
Began their day never imagining they’d be taken, captured, and caged.
Challenge
Together, they’ll attempt to stop the cruel outlaws known as the Barnett brothers.
Problem
They need to escape first!
Pros
Devyn’s sex scenes are hot, explicit, and her descriptions are spot on. The sex scene inside a wrecked plane, during a lightning storm was steaming hot! Of course, the picnic table scene at the beginning wasn’t too bad either. (LOL)
Warning
Readers familiar with the author’s novels will find Soul of the Wildcat to be a “lighter” and slower-paced read when compared to her darker faster- paced works. This book contains- expletives, sexual molestation, and a reference to bestiality which some readers may find disturbing.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: Soul of the Wildcat
Erotic Romance, Aphrodisia Books, Kensington Publishing Corp., Copyright 2009, December 2009, Paperback.
ISBN-13# 978-0-7582-3121-5
ISBN-10# 0-7582-3121-0
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November 17th, 2009 — 3 Stars, A-C, Australia/New Zealand, Book Review, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Erotica, Kidnapping, Mystery, Paranormal, Rape/Abuse, Science, Survival, Vampire, Werewolf
I am very mixed about this book. In some ways I really like it and would give it a 4 Star rating (world-building, mystery development). In other ways I would give this novel 2 Stars (sex) and say no more. Let me explain:
If you’re looking for a new paranormal series that involves romance and mystery this is a good one to start. If however you quit the Anita Blake series because of the copious amount of sex in it, do not start this one. There is a lot of sex!
For comparison: Anita Blake gained the vampire power called the ardeur and winds up having sex a lot to not die from a power drain. Riley Jenson was born part werewolf and must yield to moon lust. Both are used to add sexual encounters of the good kind and the drama, misadventure, and trouble kind to the books. Full Moon Rising had great mystery development but it was almost always upstaged by sex: the need for it, a sexual encounter, etc.
Just to be clear, the number of sex scenes in the book did not bother me. What bothered me were the werewolf culture and some particular incidences. Riley, like the rest of the werewolf populace is extremely casual about sex. Casual in the way you might say a slut likes to have sex – anyone will do, names aren’t necessary. It’s not very attractive or admirable in a heroine.
Both of Riley’s werewolf partners are assholes and at one point or the other use Riley or rape her. Sometimes more than once, depending on which guy you’re talking about and how you define more than once – as in repeatedly during a single scene or once in multiple scenes. Unfortunately for Riley moon lust just gets her primed and ready to go despite having to slake it with either of the bastards. Also moon lust warps her mind so while some part of her knows these guys are assholes, she doesn’t care, she just needs relief and fast. Again not very pleasant.
Luckily it looks like those two will be gone forever (hopefully) making room for the true saving grace of the novel… the hero Keri Arthur built in Quinn O’Connor. Quinn has been burned in love by a werewolf. He found out she was using him for his money and also drugging him. Also, his friend ‘committed suicide’ because of a werewolf. No wonder he’s leery. In addition he hates the werewolf culture when it comes to sex. He doesn’t believe a werewolf can ever be monogamous and it’s going to be a sticking point for him if as I know he will, becomes part of Riley’s life: physically and emotionally on a permanent basis.
If Quinn isn’t the major love interest and random pups get thrown repeatedly into the mix to screw things up between Riley and Quinn I’m going to sic Gautier on someone. It won’t be pleasant, believe me.
For those not in the know, Riley is part werewolf part vampire making her a dhampire. When her brother goes missing, Riley is determined to find him before he’s killed like the last ten guardians to disappear. When a mysterious vampire appears naked on her doorstep, trouble begins to heat up quickly. Who’s behind the cloning and cross-breeding and can they save Rhoan before it’s too late?
Rating: 3 Stars
Full Moon Rising (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 1)
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November 5th, 2009 — 3.5 Stars, 4 Stars, Entrepreneur, Guest Reviews, Lawyer, Magic Users, Paranormal, United States of America, V-Z
By: Mailani, guest reviewer
Banned to the mortal world for an undistinguished amount of time, Staci Romanov and her good intentioned trouble making friends weave through the centuries masking themselves as ordinary muggles. Early on in the gold rush, Staci and her best friend Blair stumble upon the town located near the power radiating Moonstone Lake. Staci owns a lingerie shop in the small present day town, to which she and Blair have vowed to protect; both friends see the town as home and the townspeople as family.
Staci places a charm on a satchel she sells to Carrie Anderson (a townsperson) to allow her husband to see what kind of person Carrie truly is. Right from the beginning of the novel you find out that Carrie has filed suit on Staci in Wizard's Court- a very aggressive legal medium. Trev Barnes, a wizard and Carrie's cut throat counsel, soon meets Miss Romanov in her small town, under the humorous insistence of his aged secretary.
With the Cupid's hearts dancing above both Trev and Staci's heads, this book makes for a very lighthearted mystery romance novel. Their meeting was nothing less than love at first sight. Even with the upcoming lunar eclipse and Mercury in Retrograde there is something still forbidding in the air that has the town's friendly ghosts trembling with shock and fear. Staci and Blair both put it upon themselves to find out what's causing the upset, later assisted by a motley crew of supernatural friends. The search leads them to Moonstone Lake, originally used as a sanctuary for the witches, now guarded by power-sucking orbs and a dangerous ward by an unknown assailant. The witches in the town are quickly placed under suspicion for causing the upset. Trev, whom is unable to remove the bitter Carrie from his case load- due to wizard's law- doesn't seem to mind crossing the social boundaries he has with Staci (as wizard's law isn't specific with interaction of opposed counsels).
I found the story funny and very entertaining. Some of the sex scenes were short and lacked description that I craved. The compilations sounded like an entrance and orgasm before I even knew what was going on. I enjoyed the food play in the book- always a treat or tea in a character's hand, which made the story seem more realistic to me. It also slowed the plot to allow the characters to develop. I felt like there were too many characters and time spent on too many side plots instead of being solely focused on the main plot. I found the mystery of Moonstone Lake’s mystic upset to be a great driver to push the character's forward, but would have enjoyed more interaction between the two protagonists. In short, Wicked by Any Other Name is well written with great flow.
Rating: 3.5 – 4 Stars
Interested in reviewing for LRP? Check out our Guest Review Submission Guidelines.
Originally posted 2009-03-08 14:19:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 24th, 2009 — 3 Stars, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Captain, France, Historic America, Kidnapping, Lisa Kleypas, Pirate, Pirate, Rogues and Rakehells, Seas, Survival, United States of America, Virgin Hero, Widow or Widower
Pirates, good/evil twins, bride stealing, quasi-spinster/virgin widow, quest for justice, nursing wounded hero, and fights to the death. There's not much missing from this set of romantic plot elements. I was left unimpressed. There was too much to juggle and for me to believe without a large suspension of belief. (I know you're thinking it's romance there is always a suspension of belief, but this was a little much.) Only with Your Love is a sequel to When Strangers Marry. We get to see Max and Lysette again this time with kids of their own. As it usually happens with sequels that feature somebody or somebodies from other books, I tend to find more negative in the sequel. It's because I develop preconceived ideas about the original secondary characters [in this case the twins] and I just don't like giving them up or letting them get their own story. Still, the story was well-written, the sex scenes diverting, and the ending neatly wrapped up. If you don't have my hangups about sequels you're sure to find this a wonderful read.
Celia Vallerand is an ex-spinster but still virgin wife of Philippe Vallerand. They are currently headed towards New Orleans from France. Celia speaks little English and is fluent in French. She's also the daughter of a doctor, the perfect companion for the charming Dr. Vallerand. Her delicate beauty and shy nature attracted Philippe from the first. She is well bred and refined, sure to fit in amongst the old blood Creole crowd. Until now he's been happy to accommodate her desire to wait on lovemaking, but he is tired of waiting... unfortunately pirates besiege the ship. Philippe is killed and Celia captured.
On the pirate island, Captain Griffin [Justin Vallerand], watches in disgust as a finely portioned, well bred miss is brought by Dominic Legare to his spoiled sexually perverted brother. She would be dead by morning or broken beyond fixing. Nobody, well bred miss or whore, should have to suffer at that man's hands. When the little miss manages to escape Andres clutches and runs into him, she begs him for help. He would give it of course... but everything changes when she says she's Philippe Vallerand's widowed wife.
Rating: 3 Stars
Originally posted 2009-02-26 15:19:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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October 21st, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Bride Stealing, Children, Farming, Gentry, Historic America, Lisa Kleypas, Revenge, Runaway, United States of America, Virgin Heroine, Widow or Widower
The more I read of Lisa Kleypas the more I want to read. When Strangers Marry was a sinful delight to sit down and read. I enjoyed every moment thoroughly. If you're looking for some scintillating sex scenes, I would book right over your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy. Some of the bedroom interactions are enough to singe your eyebrows off. I'd tell you my favorite but then you'd be deprived of the surprise.
Lysette is running away. She refuses to marry the man her stepfather wants her to marry. Gaspard can beat her to death before she gives herself over to Etienne Sagesse. Her escape is thwarted at the river by two twin boys, the sons of Maximilien Vallerand. They bring her disheveled form before their father for punishment of attempted theft. Lysette is determined not to be sent back home and Max is drawn to her spunk. Even if he wasn't, Max would never return Lysette to Etienne, his most hated rival.
Max uses Lysette to thwart Etienne and get the duel he's been craving for nearly a decade. Etienne had slept with his late wife and murdered her. Of the first, Max knows for certain, of the second, Max is very sure, but lacking evidence. In fact all evidence of his late wife's murder points to Max, the cuckolded and angry husband. Nobody believed Max's protests of innocence, but the police let him off because of the circumstances. (Apparently killing a wandering and wild wife is completely understandable.)
When the excuse that Lysette is ill and can't possibly go home turns into a real sickness Max nurses her through it. His mother protests his presence but gives in because she and the housekeeper alone can't keep up their energies. During that time (3 weeks) he decides to make her his and as satisfying as it is to steal Etienne's young bride, Max is going to find out how satisfied he can be... but can such satisfaction last?
Rating: 4 Stars
Originally posted 2009-02-22 11:49:02. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
October 10th, 2009 — 5 Stars, ARC, Australia/New Zealand, Contemporary, Crime and Protection, Erotica, Guest Reviews, P-R, Police, Suspense/Thriller
by Susan Sigler, guest reviewer
Ningaloo Nights is a smooth, well-executed, hot steamy read. So hot in fact, I’d attach the following warning. Tracy’s novella may cause:
Glasses to fog, an increase in blindfold sales, addictions to chocolate biscuits, a greater demand for hot Aussie men, increased sales of Ute trucks by single men, and stores will have to work diligently day and night to keep up with the demands of pink panties.
Changes in behavior to watch out for: clothes ripping behavior. If the Earth shakes again; its Tracy’s sex scenes causing an 8.0 on the Richter scale.
Sherry Abandonato is a guarded, tough, foul-mouthed New York Cop who travels to Ningaloo, Australia with a heavy heart; hoping to find her missing sister. She's referred to the only man who can help her, a former guide named Mason Hayward. He’s a blue eyed, delicious looking Aussie; who also happens to be well tanned, and well endowed.
Sherry doesn’t have enough money for the trip to Derremawan; where her sister (Pepper) and boyfriend (Ryan) are thought to have been. In lieu of the rest of the money; Mason devises other ways she can make up the difference. Their journey is filled with hot sexual encounters, and a sex scene against a Ute truck that puts the ecstasy in erotica.
Tracy’s novella is comparable to the movie 9 1/2 Weeks
. There are new explorations at every turn, with blindfolds, melting chocolate, and sex toys.
I recommend Ningaloo Nights for erotica lovers, those who enjoyed 9 ½ weeks, and romantic suspense readers.
Mason’s character is every woman’s fantasy. He’s compassionate, caring, concerned, strong, endowed, and sexually dominating.
There are no distractions from secondary characters, only brief appearances by (Bruce) Mason’s employee & police officials. Tracy focuses solely on the developing relationship between Mason and Sherry.
Ningaloo Nights contains loads of sex, some heartbreak, and a beautifully written happily ever after.
A hot read, indeed!
5 Star Rating.
Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc., Breathless, Contemporary Erotic Romantic Suspense, E-book, Novella, 81 pages. Copyright October, 2009. ISBN# 978 141 992 395 1
Link to Book at EC.
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September 14th, 2009 — About, Gifts, Paranormal, Vampire, Young Adult
For a long while I was a fan of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series. Anita Blake was a kick-ass heroine who's policy was shoot first, apologize later if wrong. Her story started out overcoming her hatred of all things vampire. In the beginning a couple of books into the series she had a werewolf boyfriend and a vampire who wanted to be her boyfriend. The vampire had already made his claim (by some metaphysical vampire mojo) on Anita by making her his 'vampire servant' except instead of being servant like they were equals. The series was full of sass and bad guys getting mowed down. Anita is like a metaphysical sponge, she touches (not literally) another's power and if it's at all related to passion or death she can practically replicate the power on her own, which was definitely interesting to read as she struggled to cope with powers that seem to war with each other.
Now there are too many characters, too much gratuitous sex scenes - especially with characters I couldn't give a hoot one way or the other for, and Anita seems like a whole other character than when she started. Mostly my complaints are the editions of the London vampires that basically came out of nowhere and seem to be extremely important. I haven't read the latest one with adorable werewolf Jason (Blood Noir
) because I was so disappointed with the last book (The Harlequin
) and I hear another one is coming out in June (Skin Trade
). Does anybody still read these as a huge fan of the series? I would love to get back into the series but only if I hear the last one/two books are better than what has come before.
Another vampire series are the Vampire Academy books by Richelle Mead. She is contracted to write five of them and three are currently for sale, so there are plenty of chances for the series to take off like Twilight by Meyer. I haven't had a chance to read these yet and I'm hoping one or two readers have and can shed some light on them. From what I can tell you have mortal vampires and immortal vampires, in particular a mortal vampire princess must be protected from the fierce immortal breed all the while having to go to the vampire version of high school. Why must she be protected? and what's the forbidden love that's mentioned on the backs of the books? Inquiring minds want to know...
Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer
Of course, Twilight makes this list. A brief synopsis: Supernatural male + vulnerable female set in high school find true love in each other and must fight to keep it. Read my take on the whole series and individual books by starting here on Twilight Saga.
Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris
I keep hearing of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I need to pick these up asap! Especially now that it's a television show on HBO by the name True Blood (First Season
, Second Season
.) If you are like me and haven't started the books get the Sookie Stackhouse Box Special with Books 1-7
. Enjoy!
What vampire books / series are you currently reading? Let us know - leave a comment!
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Originally posted 2009-01-17 15:09:22. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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July 27th, 2009 — About, Writing Tips
There are some things that just make it impossible to continue reading a book. So let's be blunt about the stuff that really ticks us off...like a lot.
How many of these romance novel suicides have you run across?
- Have your heroine or hero willingly/actually cheat on the other.
Sometimes the hero or heroine find out about the plans to cheat and make their contingency plans to turn the tables. The end result is the wandering partner never winds up actually cheating. The only concern I have is why the non-cheating lead wants to stay with the wandering-lead after finding out.
- Make one of your romantic leads completely peripheral to the story, until its final chapters.
Can we say Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley? Dude, that was so left-field, I don't care what you say to the contrary.
As Pamela Regis says the declaration makes for many a varied plot line. And of course we want the “I love yous!” *cough*Mr. Darcy*cough.*
- Your characters aren’t likeable or boring or both.
Stupid characters are also among the first to induce wallbanging. You know the ones I'm talking about. They are the characters whose actions and motivations are so beyond the realm of normal thinking as to be on another planet. There's even a name for the heroine of this breed: too stupid to live. Her actions are shockingly similar to the heroines who will do moronic things that get them killed or nearly killed in horror movies.
- You created a ridiculous amount of angst for nothing more than your own amusement.
For instance: the hero’s estranged wife is a narcissist-nympho with the hots for servants and whips. She also kept all knowledge of his child from him and disappeared. The heroine was abused sexually by her father and his cronies, nearly raped several time thereafter, feels guilty for “killing a man” while defending herself from his attack… and on and on and on… The Price of Desire by Jo Goodman.
C'mon did you really need THAT much drama to create a decent story?
- Your writing is passive or the style strange.
The novel completely and irredeemably lacks any connection to the reader as to be rendered emotionless. I don't want you to tell me how awesome said hero is -- SHOW me with your words how awesome he is.
- The diction you picked for the sex scenes is a turn off.
Readers even share the sex words that make you go EWWWWWW. Granted this is pretty subjective, but it’s best to be aware of these reactions. Some common sense is really all that's needed here.
- You gave your heroine a demonic pregnancy that winds up killing her.
Literally! So yea, the baby is a little demon, it eats its mother from the inside out and makes her want to drink blood as if it's as normal as Coca-Cola. (Breaking Dawn, what a way to burn a lot of readers while being distinctly unromantic at the same time.)
Someone needs to contact the creators of Angel and learn a bit or two about demonic pregnancies. *cough*Darla birthing Connor*Cordelia birthing Jasmine*cough.*
- You failed to follow through.
Ever read a novel that had such intensity and heat between the hero and heroine with the author building it up and up and up then failing to follow through with an equally delicious bedroom (wherever) scene? Nothing like a fade to black to ruin the mood. Even more so in a modern-day, non-inspirational, written romance.
Anti-Climatic scenes, of any kind, are not attractive. Be brave, suck it up and write a decent ending! Maybe then, I'll purchase your next book.
- You flirted with romance taboos and missed the mark.
For example, some of the strongest taboos I know of are about sex and pregnancy. Abortions and morning after pills are still unheard of in novels, though times might be changing. We will have to wait and see.
I'm not saying reach for the moon here, just step outside of the box a little and do it well. If you are going to take a risk, make it a well-thought out one. Perhaps then, I won't give you a review of "1 star" and pelt your novel across the room. 
~*~
Clearly this isn't a complete list. What are some other examples you can think up of what not to write? Do share!
(*Thanks to Sasha Muradali of the The L ittle Pink Book for inspiring me with "What NOT to Tweet: 10 Ways to Commit Social Media Suicide." You can read her trilogy on business, public relations and social media "don'ts" here.)
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