A Woman Scorned

A WOMAN SCORNED by Liz Carlyle will be available for purchase by mid-March. The book will not be on book shelves unfortunately; fans will have to special order them at their book stores or get them via Amazon. Order yours today.

Portrait of a Lover

Get thee to a bookstore and buy Julianne MacLean's PORTRAIT OF A LOVER. I will not take her name off my TO BUY list just yet. PORTRAIT gave me warm fuzzies and the only complaint I have is that the story wasn't longer. I've got to be honest...I wasn't too optimistic about the book. First of all, it was a sequel to LOVE ACCORDING TO LILY, which I hated. Second, the font used by AVON, my favorite publishing company, was #16. Ridiculous! Despite this, the book kept my attention and I refused to put it down. I read it in a few hours.

Annabelle Lawson, the heroine, is the sister of the Earl of Whitby, hero of LOVE ACCORDING TO LILY. When she was 21, Annabelle met Magnus Wallis, Whitby's enemy and hated cousin, on a train and embarked on a summer long love affair with him. Magnus's real identity was unknown to her because he introduced himself as someone else. Of course, he later admits it, but only after they both fall deeply in love with each other. Knowing she is in love with him and feeling unworthy of her, Magnus lies to Annabelle and tells her he was using her to get back at her brother. Thirteen years pass and they meet again. What follows is a story of a love never forgotten, one that only grows stronger with the years. Magnus's love for Annabelle is clear in every scene; he has always loved her. The same stands for Annabelle. Will she be able to forgive him, turn her back on her family and trust him again?

I loved Magnus. MacLean's depiction of this tortured soul held my attention and kept me on the edge of my seat. Annabelle was a character I could identify with. Having been hurt and abandoned by the hero years earlier, Annabelle is unwilling to trust him or any man for that matter (except her douche bag brother, Whitby, whom I cannot stand). Many will see themselves in Annabelle. Readers will revel in the moment when, after years of heartache, the lovers finally get together. I was almost crying at the end of it. It was an excellent book by MacLean. Truly surprising because I always seem to expect the worst from her, since she seems to be fairly inconsistent with her writings (AN AFFAIR MOST WICKED...'nuf said).

Hero = A
Heroine = A- (only because she listened to her brother at one point)
Plot = A-
Overall Score = A-

Good Site

I often find it hard to keep track of all the books I want to buy. Slake is a good site with release dates and plot info.

I'm a Bad Bad Girl

I don't know what came over me but I went to Walmart to get some popcorn and managed to come out of there with MacLean's PORTRAIT OF A LOVER and Jeffries's NEVER SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. I forgot the popcorn. They were $10 together and I couldn't resist. Never mind the fact that I'm broke and I promised myself I wouldn't buy any more books 'til next week. Argh!

I haven't opened the books yet...they're still sitting in a small plastic Walmart bag. Sabrina Jeffries is a favorite of mine and MacLean...well, she has disappointed me in the past, but the book sounded decent, so I thought I would give her another chance. I hope she redeems herself with this book because if she fucks up one more time, I'm taking her off my TO BUY list.

I finished reading Julie Garwood's PRINCE CHARMING. The book was just blah; it gave me none of the warm and fuzzy feelings REBELLIOUS DESIRE did. It just plain sucked! It was about 200 pages too long; the hero and heroine didn't really do it for me. They weren't silly or spineless or dimwitted by any means, so I didn't really have that to hold against them. They just seemed like a regular couple; there was no real conflict, except for a villain you only really encounter at the end of the book for about two pages. I was more interested in the secondary love story. Big disappointment. Don't bother reading it.

One Book for the Price of Two?

Is it just me or does Karen Ranney's Nov/Dec 2006 release, AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND, sound a little like Adele Ashworth's DUKE OF SCANDAL?

Judge for yourself:

AUTUMN IN SCOTLAND

DUKE OF SCANDAL
(go to the excerpt...Ashworth has the summary for DUKE OF SIN attached to her new novel).

What do you think?

Some Like It Sinful

SOME LIKE IT SINFUL is the second book in a series about rakes and rogues who gamble all day and are very good in bed. It'll be out June 2006. The author has a brief summary and excerpt on her site.

I'll probably end up reading it; the first book in the series was surprisingly good. The heroine wasn't an idiot...go figure.

Questions to Ponder

I own several Melody Thomas books. Well, actually...I own all of them. I've never read one, yet I insist on including her name on my TO BUY list. The reason is beyond me. What's wrong with me? Does this condition have a cure? Melody's next book is out April 2006. The cover...well, this is not the kind of book I would flaunt in the lunch room at work. Heroine looks like she getting ready to either let one rip or take it up the...whoaaaaaa...not gonna go there. Story sounds good. Maybe I should read one of her earlier ones before I get too excited. Anyone familiar with her works?

Like the cover of Julia Quinn's new book out this summer. Very classy and simple. The perfect book to read during my lunch break. Sorry, but I'm not brave enough to read a book that has a cover with two people who look like they're about to engage in some anal sex...sorry, can't do it, especially not at work. I'm already having a hard time warding off the stalkers and freaks there. I don't want to give them any thoughts (with me as the star of them). The heroine's name is Lucinda Abernathy. Does anyone else think it sounds just a tad bit familiar? Have we met her already? Was she introduced to us in last summer's stinker IT'S IN HIS KISS. I somehow think so. I might just have to suck it up and skim the book to death, so I can find out OR....I can just ask you for the answer. Please help!
I'm not sure if this is the cover of Kathryn Smith's new book out this July. It might be. All I know for sure is that I'd do anything to be the chick on the cover with too much red lipstick (or is it orange?) about to get her neck hickeyed to death (yeah, I made up a word...so?). Where do you find one of these guys in real life?

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

Sooooooooooooooooooo out of the loop...gosh, I've been gone for a few days because my friend was in town and I had to show her around and...sniff...I seem to have lost touch with all my fellow bloggers. Missed you gals! Really, I did. It's so nice having you all around; it means so much to know there are others out there who share my love and obsession for romance novels...really, I never thought I would feel so connected to people I don't even know, but I do...I honestly do.

So many books out now...I am BROKE!!! Yes, it's true and I have to wait another week to get my March books. Luckily, I've already read DEVIL IN WINTER, otherwise I would just have to sit on a street corner in Fisherman's Wharf (touristy spot, for all those who aren't familiar with San Francisco) and dance for book money.

I'd like to thank Sybil and Kristie J. for giving me names of more novels to buy. Yeah, thanks! I don't know where I'm going to get the money, but I have to now own all the books they mention. What are you doing to me?!?

Am currently reading PRINCE CHARMING by Julie Garwood. Many recommended I start reading THE BRIDE and THE WEDDING ASAP. I decided to hold off. Been reading PRINCE CHARMING late at night, after my friend crashed (I probably shouldn't say or write that because she's currently on a flight back to NY...errr....). PRINCE CHARMING is good, but it's no REBELLIOUS DESIRE. I'm still half way through it so it might become spectacular. It's still better than a majority of recent AVONs.

March 11th is slowly approaching. Why is the date so significant, you ask? Candice Hern will be signing her new novel IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT at a local SF Waldenbooks. I'm very excited.

My sister had her biopsy yesterday. I'd like to thank all for your good wishes, prayers, thoughts...the doctor will have the results in less than a week, but he reviewed a few things, did other tests and he believes, like the other doctors, that the lump (sis has a lump on her neck) is caused by a viral infection. I have to give Kristie a lot of credit. You are truly a superb woman. I was going bonkers the whole time, imagining the worst and just being my usual typical basketcase neurotic self. You are incredible...I just wanted to let you know that.

My friend from NY thinks I should market my own weight loss plan. She lost 5 pounds in 6 days just by following my every move (consisting of eating lots of chocolate, thai food and walking everywhere). Hmmm...maybe that would support my book buying habit!?!?!

Wow...can't wait to write up the review for DEVIL IN WINTER. Ladies, trust SYBIL!!! The book is EXCELLENT.

One of the Best Sites EVAHHHH

Gotta love it.

Need Book...NOW!!!

It's been two long days since I last touched a romance novel. My friend is in town for a visit and I think we've probably covered all of San Francisco on foot (I refuse to take cabs or buses when people visit). I'm exhausted (who wouldn't be?), broke (I spent all my money on books and now food because we HAVE to go out to eat all the time...argh!), stressed (work and family), broken out (I thought pimples ended in your teens?), getting sick (my voice is hoarse and my throat hurts a little). Sorry, had to vent...in any case, I haven't read a romance novel in two days and I'm feeling extreme withdrawal. Many good books are coming out next month and I look forward to continuing with my poverty "don't have shit to my name" streak. Books to buy, devour and hopefully enjoy in March?

Bad Boys Ahoy - Sylvia Day
Lady of Sin - Madeline Hunter
Never Seduce a Scoundrel - Sabrina Jeffries
In the Thrill of the Night - Candice Hern (buying it at her SF signing on 3/11)
Three Little Secrets - Liz Carlyle
Lord Perfect - Loretta Chase
Devil in Winter - Lisa Kleypas (got it, read it, review to come)
Portrait of a Lover - Julianne MacLean

Do you girls know of any others I should put on my list???

Gosh, I can't wait...

FINALLY

Read ALMOST HEAVEN...loved it..have become Judith McNaught's #1 Fan and must now purchase all of her books.

Many of you know how much I hate dumb heroines and especially how much I hate whipped heroes...well, this book has neither. Actually, the hero gives the heroine a hard time after she tries to run away from him...it's incredible. I was giddy and happy and wondering why I had to wait so long to read about a heroine getting her comeuppance.

I loved the characters, the story, everything. This will not be my last McNaught and I look forward to filing for bankruptcy this year to take care of my romance novel addiction.

Quick Notes

Check out Laura Lee Guhkre's SHE'S NO PRINCESS, out this summer...I'm getting it!

Sybil's review for Sylvia Day's new book is out on AAR. Check it out. Getting it, too!

I'm going to be in and out for a week or so, since my friend's visiting me from NY. Should be fun! I love playing tour guide! I hope I can squeeze in ALMOST HEAVEN. I plan on reading the whole thing tonight....do you think it can be done? I don't know how I'm going to survive without reading a romance for a week...nightmare.

I've been stressed lately because my younger sister (she's 26) has a lump on her neck, near her hairline/ear, which doctors have always said was merely an inflammation (she's had it for three years). She got a CT Scan because she was so sick of it and she's going to get a biopsy next week. I'm freaking out!

Something Wonderful

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. SOMETHING WONDERFUL by Judith McNaught is quite possibly one of the best books ever written. If you ever find yourself in a reader's slump, this book will get you out of it.

Here's a quick synopsis: heroine saves hero's life; hero, believing heroine a boy (because she's dressed like one and hasn't yet filled out - she's 18) takes her to an inn to tend to a few injuries; a few people recognize her; hero figures out she's a girl and takes her home....no harm is done…so he thinks, but he's dead wrong because her mom, who hates all men because of her husband, threatens to sue him for loss of his daughter's good name and forces him to marry her. Heroine spends some time with hero; she falls in love with him and tells him so. Hero is affected by heroine. She's a breath of fresh air, next to the women he knows; she's smart, quoting philosophers and writers every chance she gets, loving and honest. I won't ruin the story for anyone...just know that there's a separation between the two. Hero disappears (you have to read the story to find out how and why). The heroine grows up fast and when the hero returns...well, all hell breaks lose and the story gets even hotter...

Hero - A+
Heroine - A+
Sex - A+
Plot - A+
Over all Grade = A+

How did I go this long without reading a McNaught novel? I'd like to thank Sanctuary's Finest for recommending SOMETHING WONDERFUL. It was just that. Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.

Jane Feather Can Write!!!

“I need a wife for my cousin Lucien. A wife who will bear a child, an heir to the Edgecombe estate and title….Lucien is dismembering Edgecombe. I intend to put a stop to that. And I intend to ensure that his heir is my ward…my cousin doesn’t have long to live, hence the urgency in the matter…”

“I must simply bear the child of an undesirable invalid with one foot in the – “

“Ah, no, not precisely…You will not bear Lucien’s child, my dear Juliana. You will bear mine.”

And so, on Sunday, I reluctantly began reading Jane Feather’s VICE (the irony of the fact that I was reading a book entitled such on the Lord’s Day did not escape me). Reluctantly because, after ALMOST A BRIDE, Jane Feather was not exactly on my AUTHORS TO BUY list. I was so traumatized by the experience, I held on to VICE forever, after purchasing it at a garage sale for 50 cents.

My bias was eating me up…I wanted to hate this book; I wanted to believe that Jane Feather was one of those no talent individuals that had managed to make it in life, perhaps through connections and the help of a few dimwitted women who loved her moronic take on romance. It was easier for me to believe she never had any talent. Yes, I admit it. I wanted to chuck the book out the window after 3 chapters, blame Feather for sucking ass as a writer and move on with my life, hating her books and bashing them each time a new one was released.

Yes, I wanted to do that, but we don’t always get what we want. I soon found myself powerless to fight off the intensity of the story penned by Feather. Powerless and so utterly delighted. Jane Feather reeled me in, body and soul, with her story of a marriage of convenience arranged by the hero for his cousin, a pox-ridden sociopath, and the heroine, a woman in need of protection.

Tarquin, Duke of Redmayne, is a cold, calculating, manipulative and highly sexed figure. Faced with a cousin whose behavior (he’s homosexual, something punishable by law at the time; he's also not much of a nice guy) threatens to destroy the family name and fortune, he sees no choice but to find his cousin a wife, make her his mistress and impregnate her so the scandal mongers are silenced and his cousin’s title and fortune remain within the family.

Juliana Ridge is a woman on the run from the law, after accidentally killing her husband with a bed warmer (she knocks it over his head). She is beautiful, intelligent and one of the clumsiest characters ever to grace the pages of a romance novel (I have to be honest…this really got on my nerves after a while).

Juliana flees to a high class brothel. Tarquin buys her for 3,000 guineas. The rest is a story that kept me enthralled for hours. What happens when you put together two strong, stubborn, volatile characters in romance novel? Sex! Hot sex…and I loved every minute of it.

I loved the hero – arrogant, cold and sensual…my favorite kind, a romance lover’s dream come true. He was the kind of man you knew was up to the task of protecting his heroine. I enjoyed seeing him fall in love. What I didn’t like…ok, I hope I don’t get any VICE fans upset here…I didn’t like the heroine’s continuous attempts to fight the hero. I don’t want to give too much away but…let’s just say she put herself in harm’s way too often and unnecessarily, too, I might add. It got old quickly.

Nevertheless, my enjoyment of the book was not marred by these brief moments. Juliana fit Tarquin somehow…they were perfect together. Normally, I would tell the hero to find some other woman, but in this case I simply could not. They managed to work together.

There is a lot of symbolism in the novel. I’ll let you go to AAR for more on that. From a purely romantic point of view, the love story was hot. The chemistry was intense.

However, I was left with a sour taste in my mouth once I finished the book. I now had concrete proof that Jane Feather could write. All I could do was ask myself, again and again…WHAT HAPPENED?

I highly recommend VICE.


Hero – A+
Heroine – B
Hot Story – A+
Sex – A+
Overall Score – A-

I Wish I Knew How to Quit You

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! AAR has a review up for LADY OF SIN, the book with quite possibly the sexiest cover EVAAAHHH! They say it sucks (I'm paraphrasing here)! Damn! Will this stop me from buying it? I don't know...I'll wait 'til Sybil posts a review for it and see what she thinks!

AAR also reviews Christina Dodd's new book THE BAREFOOT PRINCESS and I must say...it sounds good...really good. I'm tempted to get it. Of course, it'll have to wait 'til March because my funds are pretty low thanks to the brief moment of shopping psychosis that I suffered last Saturday.

Which reminds me...ok...I went to Barnes and Noble last night NOT because I was going to buy anything really...ok, I was...I wanted to buy Sylvia Day's new book and almost fell over! $14.00...the book is $14.00??? Are they crazy!?!?! Yes, it's larger than regular romances but, give me a break, it's not hardcover. Argh! I'm an obsessed book freak though and I will end up buying it anyway, I'm sure!

Review of Feather's VICE coming soon.

NO MORE, Says My Wallet

Maybe it's the fact that her name is mentioned everywhere I click, but Sylvia Day has somehow managed to become the next on my list of authors whose books I must have NOW!!! Unfortunately, I've decided to wait 'til March to buy new books, but you can be certain that once March 1st rolls around I will be at the nearest Barnes and Noble buying BAD BOYS AHOY!

She has a new book coming out in August called ASK FOR IT. Judging from the cover, the plot and the fact that BAD BOYS has been getting such awesome reviews, it looks like many fans will be asking for it. Gosh, I need to stop reading blogs...too many book recommendations and I'm just not strong enough to resist....

Currently reading VICE by Jane Feather. All I can say is that I'm on page 122 and I haven't fed the book to the neighborhood dogs yet. Review to come.

Worth Starvation

How much money do you spend on books each month? $7? $14? $50? $100? More?

I don't keep track of what I spend. Sometimes I'll just buy one or two books; other times I go nuts and proceed to buy every book mentioned in the blogs I read.

Today, after a visit to the dentist, I rushed to my favorite UBS and proceeded to do the latter. Fortunately, I know I will not be disappointed. I bought:

Julie Garwood - THE SECRET, THE PRIZE, THE LION'S LADY, CASTLES, PRINCE CHARMING, THE WEDDING, THE BRIDE, GUARDIAN ANGEL

Deborah Simmons - SILENT HEART, THE GENTLEMAN THIEF

I couldn't find any Judith McNaught books (go figure), so I drove to Barnes & Noble and bought SOMETHING WONDERFUL and ALMOST HEAVEN.

I'm very happy...my wallet isn't too pleased, but I'll think about that when I'm eating lentil soup for a week when I run out of money 'cause I spent it all on books (yeah...if I sound hostile after reading a bad romance novel, now you know why!).

Anyone else depriving themselves of nourishment for the sake of a good book?

MUST READ

Deborah Simmons' THE DEVIL EARL is a MUST READ!!!

I am now determined to own all of her books. Too bad she doesn't seem to have gotten anything released in two years. Anyone have any news on her?

Can These Authors Be Saved?

Jane Feather - Quick question: how the hell did you go from VICE to ALMOST A BRIDE?

Karen Hawkins - Your early books were incredible, but lately your books just drag. THE SEDUCTION OF SARA and THE ABDUCTION OF JULIA made me an instant fan. AND THE BRIDE WORE PLAID and LADY IN RED...well, they forced me to reconsider your auto-buy status.

Stephanie Laurens - Seriously, LADY, how many more Cynster novels are you going to write? Follow Julia Quinn's Bridgerton lead and end it right now! Also, make sure you don't forget to add a bit of character development into your stories. That usually helps! Oh, one more thing...stories about cheating spouses and wives who just accept adultery with open arms...well, let's just say..DON'T FUCKING THINK ABOUT IT AGAIN! You're a romance novelist and I want romance, not stories tainted with syphillis-ridden coochies!

Mary Balogh - I have nothing to say about your writing abilities because quite honestly I LOVE ALL OF YOUR BOOKS. However, I must say that I am a tad bit disappointed that your new releases are now published IN HARDCOVER every year and a half! At this rate, your new SIMPLY quartet will be done by 2010 and all the novels you are currently plotting...well, what's the point? Looks like your fans will be reading them in their graves! Outrageous! I don't know who sucks most...AVON or DELL Publishing? It's a toss up!

Suzanne Enoch - You wrote one of my most favorite books, LONDON'S PERFECT SCOUNDREL. I will never forget the hero, Lord St. Aubyn, one of the sexiest men ever to grace the pages of a romance novel. This said..well..I have to be honest. SIN AND SENSIBILITY was IMO the worst book of 2005. I purchased your new book, AN INVITATION TO SIN, at a UBS, but I'm not even sure I want to read it, especially since AAR gave it a so-so review.

Kristie brought up an interesting point in one of her posts to me:

Have you noticed there have been a lot of reviews of Avon books that have been in the C range at AAR lately? I see a C grade, check the publisher and sure enough - Avon.

Unfortunately, it's not just AVON. Lately, a lot of European Historicals, AVON and other, (with a few exceptions, of course) are getting grades that are below average. What's the cause? Hmmm...maybe...just maybe...I may be going out on a limb here, so stay with me:

• Lack of Character Development...check
• Door Mat Heroines Galore...check
• Whipped heroes who don't kick the crap out of their runaway knocked up girlfriends...check
  
• Asinine Storylines...check
• The Big Misunderstanding that can be cleared up with a simple question...check
• The "I'm a sweet innocent little virgin and I'm going to fuck the brains out of the first hot stud I see; THEN I'm going to refuse to marry him, BUT I will continue sleeping with him" storyline...check
• The "Ruined Debutante (never quite 'ruined') who becomes a teacher" storyline...check
• The Virgin Widow Plot...check
• The 1-2 year gap between books in a series...even bigger check
  

hmmm...deterioration of the romance genre? less than below average AAR grading? What could it be?

The authors mentioned above have a great deal of potential.

Mary Balogh is an auto-buy for me. She excels at writing intense and heartwrenching novels. However, I'm not too pleased by the fact that her new releases are now published as hardcovers for $22 a piece. In addition, I not only have to hit the pavement to buy one of her books, but I have to wait years to get'em, too. ABSURD! Her books are written and are being held hostage for a higher profit by the publishing company. SICK (and so typically AVONESQUE Devil in Winter-like of them)!

When I think of Enoch, I think of Lord St. Aubyn. He's the reason I cannot and won't give up on her just yet. He's the reason I'm so heartbroken when I read the less than stellar reviews of her new historicals (I hear her contemporaries ROCK though!).

Hawkins...I keep buying her books because I hope she'll get out of whatever funk she's in. Or maybe I'm the one in a perpetual funk? Or maybe...NOT! I still don't understand all the praise she got for AND THE BRIDE WORE PLAID from those on the AVON board. What the hell? I couldn't get past Chapter 2!

I no longer have any hope for Laurens. Laurens pissed me off royally after I read the Cynster girls' stories, ON A WILD NIGHT and ON A WICKED DAWN. BLAUGH! The heroines acted like they were 13! MORONS (I love this word!!!). I will no longer buy a Laurens' novel (and, sorry, SCANDAL'S BRIDE will not make me change my mind).

Feather? I've hated every book I've read of hers. The last one, ALMOST A BRIDE, hurt me it was so boring! Can she be redeemed? If you were to ask a true Feather fan, the answer would be a resounding YES. They have one book in mind: VICE. I haven't read it...decided to give it a try this weekend, but I keep on hearing it is one of her best novels.

***Luckily, my UBS doesn't discriminate. I know that, even if the book is worse than my 5th grade essay on the history of the Golden Gate Bridge, they'll take it and give me store credit. So I'll keep on trying new books, new authors and then whine about it all on my blog.

Please note: I realized, after reading my post, that my comments may be construed as TOO HARSH. I don't mean to offend any authors who may or may not stumble upon my blog. You're obviously very talented; there's a reason I bought your books. However, your recent books did nothing for me - zip, zilch, nada, niente. I will continue to follow your writing progress and, for the most part, believe you capable of penning another great work.

Fun Stuff to Read

Read Sweet Angel's post on Judith McNaught's SOMETHING WONDERFUL. This is definitely going to be my next purchase. Jealous heroes? Yes, please.

All About Romance has a review up for Hawkins' upcoming HER MASTER AND COMMANDER...I'm not exactly surprised by it and...if I not mistaken, didn't she already write this book and get it published...I think it was called LADY IN RED .
The storyline is not one of my favorites.