Jun 8 2008
June Open Thread for Readers
Got a book you want to talk about? Frustrated with a book or series? In love with a new one? Found a buried treasure? An issue that keeps popping up in the books you are reading? Just want to chat about stuff in general? Post away.
Related posts:
Jun 08, 2008 @ 21:58:41
I’m kind of curious to hear what people are reading and what is at the top of their TBR piles or TBB lists, too.
Jun 08, 2008 @ 22:08:19
Hi Jane and other readers!
I have become frustrated lately as I try to track down some OOP titles, particularly Judith Lansdowne.
Can anyone recommend good (but not expensive) used book sites in the States where I can look and order online? They need to be able to send overseas (obviously). Thanks!
ETA I have just finished re-reading Lansdowne’s Mystery Kiss. The hero is so sweet. It makes me smile.
Jun 08, 2008 @ 22:10:24
Janine, the last thing I read was the fourth Psycop novella, Secrets. I love this series, and wish more people writing cops and paranormals in the m/m genre had Ms Price’s strong voice and gift for quirky characters. I also adore (okay, I’m ragingly jealous of) the way she mixes the detective and paranormal genres so well. The fourth novella, which is one of the strongest, is self-published, but don’t let that put you off because it’s well-edited and cleanly presented. I’ve reviewed all the novellas here, and if you want gritty with your romance, this is the one for you.
And no, I didn’t get paid to say any of that!
Jun 08, 2008 @ 22:10:40
I don’t really keep a TBR pile since I’m a pretty fast reader, but I’m in the midst of reading Kim Harrison’s latest Hollows release, with Persia White’s Harlem Renaissance mystery, and Rhys Bowen’s debut up next. My TBB list is made up of one book: Megan Chance’s The Spiritualist.
Jun 08, 2008 @ 22:20:13
I just finished the first book in the Sharing Knife series by Lois McMaster Bujold. It was so very good I’m looking at other stuff by her. My public library is woefully understocked, however. I cry.
I also find I’m very frustrated with all the brouhaha about the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I’ve read a lot of reviews, a very complete plot summary and I tried it and couldn’t get past the first 10 pages. Just not my thing. Can anyone tell me what the big draw of this series is to them? I’d be really curious to hear what someone who’d liked it really loved about the book, what drew them to it and kept them reading. Millions of readers aren’t wrong, so I’m just wondering what they saw in it that I didn’t. Anyone?
Jun 08, 2008 @ 22:54:12
I just finished The Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt. I really enjoyed it. Hoyt writes great characters with real emotion and hot love scenes, lol. I haven't read the other two books in her Princes trilogy (I'm kind of turned off, to be honest, by The Raven Prince's premise), but I enjoyed Hoyt's writing so much I'm tempted to try them. Next up I think I might read If His Kiss is Wicked by Jo Goodman, but I'm not sure. I'm in one of those moods where I don't really know what I'm in the mood for.
Mothella – The original draw of the Twilight series, for me, was the characters. I found the struggle between the characters (a vampire who falls in love with a human while fighting against his urge to kill her) to be engaging. I also liked how human the story was even though it featured vampires. But don't feel bad if you don't like it. Even popular books won't resonate with everyone who reads them.
Jun 08, 2008 @ 23:14:00
Dance Chica: I loved The Raven Prince, and it’s my favorite out of the trilogy. READ IT! I also read If His Kiss is Wicked and liked it, but I didn’t love it like other readers seemed to. I have moods too, and maybe it just wasn’t the right one for reading the Goodman novel.
Mothella: Ugh Twilight. This is a very controversial topic, and since I have a livejournal, it comes up once in a while. Personally I read the first one and found it amusing but not very good. It’s not even addictive like JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series because I had no urge to continue reading, and since I’ve heard the rest of the series continues on with teenage angst and love triangles I’m not really in a rush to do so. I can’t even say it was the vampire/human girl thing that drew me in, because I’ve read many other romances that deal with it much better. I think it depends on who you ask, because while there are a lot of people who adore the series there are also a lot who just can’t into it.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 00:30:16
Re: Twilight
This is a hot topic on Mormon feminist and arts blogs because the author is a squeaky-clean Mormon housewife. There’s no sex! Yay! Clean books for our young women to read! Yay!
Erm…not so fast.
1. The vampire myth is all about sex. Twilight is no less so and some of the scenes where he barely kisses her throat are HOT HOT HOT, but…
2. The broad interpretation across the aforementioned blogs is that Edward’s a stalker.
3. The heroine is a good example of what not to let one’s daughters grow into. She is weak and in no way heroic.
4. My interpretation is that it has strong overtones of a dom/sub relationship, which there’s nothing wrong with if you’re an adult and you have enough emotional maturity to know what you’re getting into. A 17-yo doesn’t.
My other issue is that Edward’s like, what, 100 years old? And he has the emotional maturity of a 17-yo. Either Meyer didn’t cover that in her mythology or…something. I’m not sure.
The question I have is if Meyer knew she was writing all these layers of sexual subtext (some more subtle than others). If she was, she’s a freakin’ genius. If she wasn’t (and, given my religious culture, there’s a very strong possibility of that), well… Hmm. ‘Tis a puzzlement.
I was entertained enough to keep reading, but annoyed enough to get pulled out of the story at the same time. I don’t really care enough to get anymore of them.
* * *
Otherwise with regard to my reading, I’m re-glomming Laura Kinsale because, well, because she’s Laura Kinsale. ‘Nuff said.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 03:28:44
Ann, I just finished reading Secrets as well and I agree with you. I think that with the third and fourth novellas Ms. Price has found the right balance between romance/paranormal elements/mystery -maybe she’s become more sure of the world she has created and I think she has matured in her writing. Body and Soul and Secrets are really good – I’m left wanting to read more about Vic and Jacob and their relationship because I like them and I like to see them together. I want to know more about Victor’s past and I am a little anxious about Crash and his interactions with the two principal characters. I am glad I continued reading this serie after discovering by chance the first novella (which made me curious enough but is IMO the weakest of the serie) and I’m glad I’m not the only one enjoying it.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 03:39:25
I agree but I thought it was still a stunning debut. I think, like a lot of us writing series, you grow into the characters and the world, so the author is still sorting out the exact implications of the various paranormal talents and so on. She’ll have a master plan, I’m sure of it, but it’s a bit like moving to a new town in the same country. You’ll be familiar with most of it, but there will be little quirks and local issues to learn.
Replying gives me a chance to give a link and the author’s full name (which I stupidly omitted in my first comment – Jordan Castillo Price’s site is here:
http://www.psycop.com/
Paranormal cops, love ‘em :) (so long as they’re not werewolves or vampires!)
Jun 09, 2008 @ 07:34:04
I enjoyed Garden Spells by Sara Addison Allen (hope I remember her name right) very much.
I finished Blue Eyed Devil while on holiday. I’d dropped it some months back because I have a hard time reading about abused women, but after reading quite a few books with some sort of paranormal elements I wanted a straight contemp and I have to say it turned out to be a very satisfying read in the end.
Looking ahead it would be more paranormals. I have Slave to Sensation and Lara Adrian’s 3rd book–the one that Jane liked best–TBR.
And also TBR, a Mills and Boone by Lucy Gordon–The Italian’s Cinderella Bride–that I’d picked up while in Bangalore, India. :-)
Jun 09, 2008 @ 07:34:49
Liz: Try Mostly Romance: http://www.mostlyromance.com. If Sandy doesn’t have it, she can usually find it. If you can, provide her with the ISBN numbers of what you’re looking for, it helps her search. Good luck!
Jun 09, 2008 @ 07:43:24
I am all for chatting about Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series, since Breaking Dawn, the last book in the series is coming out in August. And after reading The Host, Meyer is one of the best authors in this business, a young adult author or otherwise.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 07:46:46
I’ve gone back in time and I’m reading “Villette” by Charlotte Bronte. The heroine is so compelling. I have about 1/3rd of the book left. Knowing Charlotte, I’m not expecting a happy ending, but I sure want one, which is the mark of a great writer. The heroine’s perfect match is right by her side, but she can’t see him for the golden doctor who’s her major crush.
Next on my reading list is “Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded,” which was written in 1790. It is supposed to be the very first modern romance novel, told from the heroine’s perspective, about courtship and marriage, and with a happy ending. It was authored by Samuel Richardson. I’m looking forward to it, but I hope I can find it on audiotape or CD. Ye olde English is easier to understand audibly than to read, at least for me.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 08:02:41
When I read it, I thought it probably wasn’t deliberate, though I think it’s one of the things that make the books work. I’m a pure and innocent presbyterian, so I wouldn’t recognise a sub/dom relationship unless the author pointed it out, and while I’ve read other people suggesting Edward is a stalker, I don’t see it in the book myself.
My issue would be your last point, that if you read Edward as a 100+ year old, the whole relationship is too peculiar for words. For me, the books only work if I forget that, and think of Edward as a 17 year old, at the mercy of his hormones.
I did point the age disparity out to my 15 year old, who loves these books intensely (as do many of her friends) and she can’t see my point at all.
My theory is that the books are so successful exactly because the sex is all subliminal – that it’s a really safe yet powerful fantasy. I remember seeing a TV programme that explained the appeal of fresh faced pop stars – Donny Osmond, David Cassidy types – to adolescent girls. Something about their faces not being overly masculine, and therefore unthreatening. My daughter has the same sort of reaction to Edward that I could imagine her having to a Boy Band member, so I wonder if there’s a similar dynamic at work.
I thought the series was very readable, but definitely YA. I’ll read the fourth, because she likes to talk about them. I’d be downright keen to read the alternative POV version of the first – think it’d be fascinating to see the same book written two different ways by an author.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 08:10:45
MaryKate: Thanks. Will do. I wasn’t willing to buy $7 worth of used books on an Amazon site and pay $90 for shipping!!! It worked out at $13 a book. They weren’t even worth that new.
Right now I’m hanging out for the next book in the Sign of seven trilogy by NR. I’m waiting for next weekend so I can read it all in one go. I enjoyed “Blood brothers”. A bit more horror (almost Kingian) in flavor but so much better than the Circle trilogy. Sorry – but I found them the only series of her books I just couldn’t get into. I don’t know if it’s because I used to be a big fantasy fan. I either grew out of it or I just got sick of so many titles failing to inspire me like the authors of the 80s and 90s.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 08:13:40
Marianne, I did have another thought a while back, but as I have no teenage girls in the house (daughter went to kindergarten today WOOO HOOO!!!), I can’t say if I’m in the ballpark anywhere.
Let's assume a 13-yo girl (or thereabouts, the target audience for this book) is going through puberty. Bewildering changes in her body, more responsibility in the home and elsewhere, more accountability for their actions, having to think more grownup thoughts for long-term goals like grades suitable for college admission, jobs in order to pay for things they want, having to sacrifice one thing for another…
Maybe the wish fulfillment fantasy for a 13-yo isn't what I (we, adults) would think of as sexual, per se; maybe it's to escape having to grow up. Bella doesn't have to grow up if she submits to Edward's pull because he'll do all the thinking and acting and responsibility-ing for her. HE chooses not to bite her. HE chooses not to kill her. HE is the one who directs the course and all Bella has to do is go along for the ride.
Like I said, no direct contact with that age girls and I avoid revisitation of that stage of my life at all costs, so… I might be way off base.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 09:17:31
I just read Sherry Thomas’ PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS and absolutely loved it! Definitely my favorite historical this year. SUGAR DADDY by Lisa Kleypas was also exceptional. I just started THE SPYMASTER’S LADY last night and am enjoying it very much. I think I’m with the Janes instead of Janine on this one! So far I’m finding Annique clever, witty, and resourceful.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 09:32:01
I just finished The Salt Maiden by Colleen Thompson. I actually thought I picked it up because of a review by Jane here, but can’t find it now, so I guess not!
Anyway, very well done romantic suspense. I felt it had a really nice balance between the suspense and the romance. The writing and plotting was excellent too. Even if the latter was a little out of control right near the end. I did feel the hero was weighed down by a lot of baggage, too much, but the way he just kept right on trucking made him, well, very heroish! I’ll have to read another of her books.
(And now I wonder how I came to pick it up. I must have read a review somewhere that swayed me as I hadn’t heard of Thompson before.)
Jun 09, 2008 @ 10:10:56
I have the new Loretta Chase, but haven’t gotten into it. I even returned the new Julia Quinn because it was too whimsical, and I’m not in the mood for whimsy. I don’t know what I’m in the mood for frankly. My mid-summer malaise has hit early.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 10:23:19
Lucinda, I love Villette and once, a long time ago, oops, I offered to guest review it here. I think it’s an extraordinary, wonderful, angry, subversive novel and I’d love to know what you think when you finish it.
Ah, this is currently my reading material too (I have a rather bizarre system where I have several books on the go–bathroom, bedroom, commute etc). Very, very interesting book and all about power. Who does hold the power in this relationship? But rather heavy going until you’re into it and the language.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 10:28:19
Liz in Australia — For out of print books, you might try http://used.addall.com , a site that searches a variety of internet used bookstores and compares prices between them. It’s likely that at least one or two of the stores it searches (they are all listed on the page) will ship to Australia.
Ann Somerville — Thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately I’ve noticed that series that follow the same main character or characters usually lose me after the first or second book. I get tired of reading about the same people and would rather have shiny new ones. But maybe I would last longer with a series of novellas than I do with same-character novel series.
Angela —
Would this be Harlem Redux by Persia Walker? That was the closest match I could find, and it sounds intriguing.
I bought this one recently and have it TBR. Who knows when I’ll get to it, though.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 10:52:57
Re. Twilight. I may be the wrong person to ask, since it was just a B/B+ for me, but I felt that the appeal was Edward and his powerful internal conflict between wanting to suck Bella dry of her blood and falling in love with her. It was that constant sense of danger combined with the falling in love storyline that gave the book a lot of emotional power. Although I must admit that I never really understood why Edward would be so attracted to Bella, who seemed pretty average to me.
On whether or not Meyer was aware of the sexual subtext, I vote yes. Vampires have had a seductiveness to them as far back as Bram Stoker’s Dracula. I can’t imagine any writer dealing with the vampire myth would not be conscious of at least that much.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 10:58:12
Yes, you spelled her name correctly. I have this book TBR as well, though there are at least a couple of titles ahead of it. Hope you had a nice vacation.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 11:13:08
I've seen a lot of people cite the age difference between Bella and Edward as a concern but I've never really thought of Edward as a 100 year old man so much as a 17 year old who's lived a 100 years. To me there's a difference. In my mind he's a teenager who's been frozen in time developmentally. He would change and grow and perhaps mature, through the years, but underneath it all he's still just a teenager.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 11:17:06
Katiebabs — my 15 year old daughter is waiting for the next Meyer book. We were at BAM the other day when the manager mentioned they were doing a Midnight launching for the book and she already plans on being there with some friends. The bookstore is even doing a theme…come dressed in your prom dresses, etc. She’s not sure she’ll do that but she does plan to be there to get the book and stay up and read it.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 11:21:36
Right now I’m in the middle of BEAST OF DARKNESS by Lisa Renee Jones. Book 3 of her Knights of White series. So far it’s good. Before that I read PACK CHALLENGE, GO FETCH & HERE KITTY KITTY by Shelly Laurenston. Loved them and some of the scenes had me cracking up they were so funny.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 11:40:48
I devoured Sarah McCarty’s Caine’s Reckoning in one sitting, and now consider myself a fangrrrrrrrrl of her :grin: Can’t wait until Sam’s Creed comes out!
Jun 09, 2008 @ 11:46:58
Icurently have two books on the go, A Dangerous Woman by L M Jackson, a mystery set in the Victorian underworld, a rather dark and unforgiving place and The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters. I’m in the mood for a major reread of Amelia. My TBR pile just gets bigger but perhaps it’s the longer days, I can’t settle to a new book at the moment. I keep looking at the pile and going back to rereading old favorites that are less demanding of attention than a new read.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 12:09:04
OK, I loved Twilight (and the rest of the series) despite living in Forks while reading them, because, come on. Winter in Forks and no mention of the endless power outages and hurricane force winds? Or the high school parking lot’s regular flooding? Anyway. The big draw is that the emotions are so vivid, it’s a suck-you-in reading experience. It’s suspenseful and emotionally intense and a sweep-you-away read. And yes, I will see the movie, too. I saw the trailer and it was just like being there. Made me miss the moss. (But not the hurricane force winds or power outages.) I can understand that it might not work from some readers who can’t get past various aspects of the books, like Edward’s age, etc. But they worked for me. I think she’s a genius.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 12:10:57
MoJo, I googled to see if I could find the research about teenage girls liking more feminine men. I didn’t, but came across an interesting study called:
‘Adolescent Females’ Idolization of Male Media Stars as a transition into sexuality.’
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2294/is_2001_Jan/ai_77384287/pg_1
It suggests that there’s a period when girls are sexually mature, but not ready psychologically to be in a sexual relationship, but they’re culturally conditioned to be in love and therefore:
“In light of the need to be in love, finding a love-object toward whom one can safely direct newly-acquired cravings becomes a major goal. Such safety can be found by projecting these newly awakened feelings onto an inaccessible person. Who might such an inaccessible person be? Ganetz (1995) labels him “the idol” and claims that he functions as the practice object on which to test new exciting feelings; the idol thus fulfills an important function because he represents a love-object that entails no risk and no responsibilities.”
Which seems to me to fit with what you’re suggesting.
Should say, I’m not suggesting that’s the dynamic that attracts everyone to the books – more mature readers are going to be getting something else from Twilight. But if you replace ‘Media Stars’ with ‘Fictional heroes’ in the following quote, it sounds to me like what my daughter and her friends are finding in the book.
“Media stars are preferable as love objects because they are inaccessible, can serve as practice love objects on which to test new exciting feelings, to discuss and legitimize these feelings in one’s peer group, to play-act the role of caring for someone else, and fantasize about being loved back.”
Hope your daughter enjoyed Kindergarten.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 12:58:50
Heh. I am reading a dark paranormal about a vampire coming to grips with his bloodlust, too. It’s Sarah Reinke’s Dark Thirst , though, not Twilight.
Honstly, I’m the wrong person to ask about Twilight, too. My sister and I were hanging out one day and we were bored, so she got the book out and said, “You’ll love it.” Then she read me the first couple of chapters. I came away thinking, “Oh, it’s a YA coming of age story, but with vampires! How cool!” Then I went on to read the book on my own and realized there wasn’t a whole lot of character growth, and once Edward was in the picture, well, the book ceased to be about anything else. Maybe I’ll go back and read the series once it’s all out, but honestly, I don’t have a lot of patience for love triangles and boy-crazy heroines in my adult fiction, so I suspect that I still won’t like it in YA even knowing what to expect.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 13:11:18
Shannon, I totally grok that and I love coming of age stories, so when she didn’t actually come of age…
Marianne, thanks for that link. I’ve bookmarked it to read later. I’ll admit mine was David Hasselhoff (will that get me banned here?). ;)
Dance Chica, I understand and I would have bought that hook, line, and sinker if she’d explained that as part of her myth construction.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 13:16:27
azteclady: I read Caine’s Reckoning on a long flight from DC to San Francisco and literally blushed reading it. That book was combustible. I’ve called dibs at the two sites I review for in the hopes I can get it first. I think McCarty has such a fine writing style and her books have a lovely thread of emotion through them, all the while being smokin’ hawt!
Jun 09, 2008 @ 13:20:36
I just finished Ann Herendeen’s Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander. Though it had some weak parts, overall I was delighted with it. She strikes a lot of exactly right notes while treading that interesting line of gay romance in the Regency.
Followed that up with Elizabeth Hoyt’s Raven Prince. Excellent. Then I tried a SEP but found it too formulaic I’m afraid (I’m mostly a reformed romance reader after 30 years of reading thousands, I’m now uber picky and looking for different rather than same).
In my current favorite genre, I really enjoyed Mark del Franco’s new one, Unquiet Dreams, which is a sequel to his first novel, Unshapely Things.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 13:51:20
Re: Twilight and the characters’ ages:
I haven’t read Twilight, but back in my day it was LJ Smith’s Vampire Diaries that were the hot topic (at least at my school; my friends read my copies until the pages fell out), and the two vampire brothers wooing 17-year-old Elena were almost 500 years old, if I’m not mistaken. Stefan passed as a high school student and Damon as a college student. It never occurred to my young mind that it was weird at all. I guess I was too busy swooning. That was an excellent series, and OMG, if they’d made a movie out of it, I’d have been in heaven. Lucky Twilight fans. ;)
Jun 09, 2008 @ 14:09:02
Caine’s Reckoning! That book should be outlawed. Way too hot.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 14:12:19
Liz in Austalia – I know exactly what you mean about the Circle trilogy (by Nora Roberts). When I read the first book, my reaction was ‘how bland’. (The reason for this was that I was at the time pretty much immersed in LKH’s Anita Blake series and they’re so spicy and overwhelming that anything will seem bland compared to them.) I eventually came to enjoy the Circle trilogy – but for the characters, not as vampire books.
As for what I’ll be reading… I’m thinking of doing a marathon of Harry Potter this summer. I read the seventh book by itself last summer and the sixth book two(?) years before that but it’s been a while since I read the first five. (And no, I was not there at midnight -or whenever- to grab a copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when the books became available. Like a sane person I went to work first, bought my copy after work … and gorged myself on the book until it was done. I only interrupted my reading when needs such as sleep, food, work and nature’s calls were really pressing.)
Anyhow. Before I get to the Potters (and I have to find them in the cellar first) my TBRs (or maybe will-be-reads would be more accurate) include Julia Quinn (I read The Duke and I for free a couple of weeks ago and absolutely have to find out what happens to the other siblings), High Noon by Nora Roberts, and the rest of the Raintree series (I read Linda Howard’s Raintree: Inferno a month or so ago and now I have to know what happens next and how it all ends). What else? Ah, yes, I am also awaiting Blood Noir by LKH to arrive.
Since all those books have to arrive before I can pile them TBR and decide on the reading order – which might be easier if they don’t all arrive at once – I went to the library and borrowed Love Comes Softly and Love’s Enduring Promise by Janette Oke to reread (after 15 years -or so-) while I wait. I do know that once the packages arrive the inspirationals will get tossed aside.
And that’s way more information than anyone ever wanted, right? :-P
Jun 09, 2008 @ 14:29:50
And I can’t spell. I meant Australia, of course! *blush*
Jun 09, 2008 @ 16:21:28
Cherrie Lynn: Did you know they’re reprinting pretty much all of L.J. Smith’s backlist? I know the Vampire Diaries omnibus has already come out and the first volume of the Nightworld omnibuses (omnibi?) just came out last week.
Jun 09, 2008 @ 18:28:07
Jia, I’ve seen those and I’ve been seriously thinking my old copies need to be replaced. I also just read at LJS’ website that she is writing Damon’s story as a trilogy and the first one is coming out next March. Ohhh, I don’t need a movie after all; I’m already in heaven. :)
Jun 09, 2008 @ 22:44:15
I read Lynn Kurland’s new book and Loretta Chase’s new one last week. I have a TBR that is soooo deep it is crazy! I used to read about 3 books a week, but I haven’t been doing that for about 6 months now – so the pile has gotten bigger.
I had Jacqueline Carey’s new Mercy book come in on Friday and I also picked up Shiloh Walker’s Through the Veil. I had to travel today so Shiloh won for being lighter to carry. I am enjoying it very much so far.
I have Susan Crandall’s Pitch Black, J.R. Ward’s Lover Enshrined and a few other new books that have been added to the monsterous stack (we are talking 150 to 200 deep)…I really need a hand held reader… =]
Jun 10, 2008 @ 06:37:52
I have Twilight at home waiting to be read, but I’m now totally wondering where that invisible line is where a supernatural age gap becomes acceptable and sexy or too much! For example, is it skeezy when the 900-year-old alien Doctor on Doctor Who falls for a 19 year old companion, or is it skeezy when a 100 year old vampire falls for a 17 year old? Where’s the line between immortal romance and just plain wrong!? :)
I didn’t realise the whole interesting story behind the author — just picked it up because I liked the cover. Looking forward to seeing what it’s like.
Jun 10, 2008 @ 09:16:10
Janine
Yep. I was doing my general blog hopping and found her on the Crime Sistahs blog.
Jun 10, 2008 @ 11:34:35
Well, Lynn Flewelling’s fourth Nightrunner book will be coming out on the 24th. I do admit being pretty excited about it, especially since we fans have had to wait for years for new Seregil and Alec adventures,
Jun 18, 2008 @ 12:23:11
I just picked up The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella. Looks like a great summer book.
I’m also looking forward to reading The Sugar Queen(s?) by Sara Addison Allen since I loved Garden Spells.
BTW I really enjoyed all of the Twilight books. I guess I don’t analyze them that hard and just enjoy them.
Jun 24, 2008 @ 13:20:08
I recently read WHEN HE WAS BAD by Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden. Fell in love with the Laurenston story…loved everything about it. The Eden, that was a new to me author and my first jaguar shapeshifter story. Also very good. Does anyone know of any other jaguar shifter stories that I can get my hands on?
Jun 24, 2008 @ 13:24:23
Another one I read a few days ago was NO CHOICE BUT SEDUCTION by Johanna Lindsey. This one featured Boyd Anderson so you got to see the Mallorys again. I love the Mallorys. Especially James and Anthony. ;)
Jun 30, 2008 @ 11:29:16
I finally read Evanovich’s Fearless Fourteen. I bought it when it came out and put it on my TBR pile because I had heard some of the negative reviews and didn’t want to be disappointed.
I really enjoyed it. I love the give and take between Stephenie and Ranger and Joe and there wasn’t tons of it in this book. But I really enjoyed it and I believe that the series will stay an autobuy for me.
Jun 30, 2008 @ 21:52:32
I would have enjoyed Villette a lot more if the anti-Catholicism had been a little less out of control. It pretty much killed my Jane Eyre love, too.
Mormon-Vampire tale blows up intrawebs | Moriah Jovan
Jul 25, 2008 @ 17:10:41
[...] an erotic book. Whether it was intended to be, I don’t know. I don’t think so, though Janine from Dear Author disagreed. Mind, the majority of LDS readers who are online don’t get the heavy sexual [...]
Oct 13, 2009 @ 05:30:57
@Cherrie Lynn:
I’m also not a fan of Stephanie Meyer, I was halfway through the first one, closed it and never touched it again.
I guess you’ve got your wish Cherrie. They made Vampire Diaries a TV series instead though. :)
In my time (90s) I was a fan of Christopher Pike’s The Last Vampire series. Sita, the protagonist was a 5,000 yr old Vampire, she witnessed the birth of the first vampire, also christened his name.
Although she did go as a high school student in modern times, she does act her true age. Though a YA, this is far from a romance though. I liked the rich mythology since she practically lived through history.
Mar 21, 2012 @ 11:54:26
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