Dear Author » Hollywood

REVIEW: Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly

Jayne — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:00:57 +0000

Dear Ms. Hambly,

The title of this book is what got my attention. I mean, how could it not? Once I saw it, I knew I had to read it. Who’s the Rat God? Who is his bride? What on earth is going on here?

If not for her actress sister-in-law Chrysandra Flamande taking her in, WWI widowed Norah Blackstone would still be an underpaid, overworked servant to a nasty, older woman in gray Manchester, England. Sometimes Norah still can’t believe how Christine blew into her life and whisked her away to sunny California as a companion to Christine as well as her three Pekinese dogs – Buttercreme, Chang Ming and Black Jasmine.

Though she can’t act to save her life, Christine is in the movie business and the pampered mistress of studio head A.F. Brown who’s given his “mad about all things Chinese” rising star a beautiful, though unusual, necklace reputed to have been looted from the Imperial Palace. On the night of the premiere of her latest movie two things happen – Norah meets camera man Alec Mindelbaum and an older Chinese man desperately tries to warn Christine of a life or death evil that’s been raised by her wearing the necklace. Already used to the lengths that movie fans will go to in order to see their favorites, Norah dismisses the odd old man though she and Alec agree he wasn’t like the usual fans.

But later that same night two more things happen – a stunt double who wore the necklace is brutally murdered and a violent storm blows through the area during which the three Pekes go berserk. The next morning the Chinese man, Shang Ko, appears and almost mystically manages to be hired as Christine’s groundskeeper. Still, no one is willing to believe what he says about the necklace and how it means Christine is now promised to an ancient, evil Manchurian god. But when bizarre things begin to happen on a location shoot followed by a mind blowing event after a star studded party, Christine, Norah and Alec can’t deny that something evil is lurking and maybe the old man is right. Can the four of them thwart the Rat God of his promised bride and keep from destroying half of Los Angeles while they do it?

After I read the glowing review of this book at All About Romance, I immediately ordered a used copy online that then sat on some bookshelves near my computer desk for years, silently urging me to read it. Finally I took it down and slid it into my reading rotation. Now that I finally read it, I wish I’d done so years ago. It’s fascinating, well written, fast paced and packed with tension leading to a dynamite ending. It’s also got a sweet romance between a woman who thought her heart was dead and a fantastic hero who’s probably a good four inches shorter than she is, bearded and who wears glasses. Readers who want to experience an unusual hero need look no further.

A friend of mine has Pekes and the descriptions of Christine’s three furry protectors are so accurate that they come alive for me as individual little people from Buttercreme’s outraged hiding when people visit the house, to Chang’s conviction that everyone is a long lost relative and finally little Jasmine struggling up and down stairs while being extremely vocal about that. They are also fiercely protective of both their mistress and Norah and play important roles in the ultimate take down of the Rat God.

The world of 1920s Hollywood with all its pre Hays Code wildness is vividly brought to life. The film stars of the day might have earned more money than the average American would see in a lifetime but the physical and mental cost of the 18 hour work days and churning out a film a month would need the easily prescribed cocaine to keep them going. And who cared for Prohibition? Free flowing booze, some of it even safely made!, was the order of the day. Sleek Nash roadsters, beaded flapper dresses and elegant cigarette holders add to the visual images that filled my head while reading the book.

As for the fantasy elements of the story, I guess if a reader is willing to buy a book called “Bride of the Rat God,” then he or she will be willing to go along with the plot. Clues are woven into the story from the beginning but one thing I like is how you gently drop them into the narrative without pointing neon arrows at them. Yeah the premise, when examined as a whole, is outrageous but since it’s doled out little by little, I had time to swallow the tiny pieces and buy into the whole shebang. The time frame of the story is also crucial since it draws on actual things which were common then such as powerful studio heads manipulating crime scenes to protect their investments, the simultaneous mania for China with the blatant racism against the Chinese in L.A., the specific locations in and around the city which feature in the book plus the “free for all” film industry of the day.

As well the danger is slowly revealed such as when Norah notices something about the foundation of Christine’s house after the early storm that scares her yet it’s another page or two before what alarms her is finally described. It allows time for my brain to magnify the mystery and terror of what could possibly be there and the implications that arise. Later on all the clues and forshadowing make sense but the whole thing is allowed to build to the thrilling climax.

The wealth of period detail, the pulse pounding ending, the complex characters, the tight narrative and three wonderful little dogs make “Bride of the Rat God” a winner for me. I wish it was currently in print but there are used copies to be found and an ebook version available. For people tired of vampires, were-creatures, Regencies, gazillionaire CEOs and secretly pregnant heroines this is something different to sit down and fall in love with. A

~Jayne

REVIEW: Addicted to You by Bethany Kane

Jane — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 17:00:10 +0000

Dear Ms. Kane:

For an erotic romance, this book had both smoking hot sex and great emotional connection between the characters. Where it falters is in the tacked on romantic suspense plot and the totally WTF opening scene. However, as an erotic romance, it definitely delivers. In fact, of all the books you’ve written this one reminds me most of Wicked Burn, my favorite Beth Kery.

Katie Hughes, Everett Hughes, and Rill Pierce have been friends since their teens, the Hughes family adopting the young man from Ireland. Rill, a famous movie director and script writer, who had directed Everett Hughes in six of his films. Katie did not go in front of the screen choosing to be a tax attorney in Beverly Hills. Katie has been in love with Rill since he first came into her life but he’s never looked at her as anything as his best friend’s little sister. Rill married an actress named Eden but 18 months ago, she died and Rill ran away ending up in Vulture’s Canyon, Illinois. Why he ran away and the reason for his emotional withdrawal is far more complicated than the fact that his wife had died. Instead it is wrapped up in Rill’s sexual identity. Essentially, Rill is afraid of his own sexual nature, afraid that he’ll somehow let go and become overcome by his “unnatural” urges. He’s taken up drinking as his only hobby. (Was he an alcoholic? I never felt like this was well addressed).

There’s something about how you write the sex scenes that make them compelling. I think it’s the activity and by that I mean, there’s movement both in the action of the characters, but also in the emotion expressed through internal monologue and dialogue. During the scene, we know what the characters are feeling at each given moment and that’s important to me. I think the scenes also include the five senses: what the characters smell, taste, feel, hear, and see. They are very alive for me. Plus, there is a lot of emotion leading up to the acts itself.

Katie has come to save Rill from himself and unexpectedly finds herself the intense focus of Rill’s suppressed passions. So the first scene. Rill is the drunk off his ass. Katie shows up at his door. And … Rill proceeds to have sex with Katie without a condom. While this was incredible sensuous scene, I kept thinking that Rill wasn’t in complete control over his own mind and Katie should have put a stop to it. If roles were reversed and Katie was totally drunk, I don’t think I would have been okay with Rill having sex with Katie. And Katie! Katie, girl, I know this is the man of your dreams, but make him suit up, okay?

I liked that Katie has decided that Rill has had enough time to damage himself and that she wants him to wake up and realize that she’s a good partner for him, both in bed and out of it. She doesn’t back down from Rill or her brother but is pursuing her own desires. Rill, afraid of his attraction toward his BFF’s little sister, runs hot and cold. This is offset, though, by Katie’s mostly level headedness. I wanted Rill for Katie because Katie wanted Rill and Rill’s waffling wasn’t because he didn’t want Katie, but because he wanted her too much. Rill is full of a lot of self disgust and doesn’t want to sully Katie’s precious being with his dirty hands and even dirtier mind. Of course, everyone else from Katie to the reader is encouraging him to defile her in every way possible.

Even though Rill was married previously, I never felt that Rill hadn’t completely fallen for Katie by the end. I was charmed by the small town of Vulture’s Canyon and the inhabitants.

I think where readers may stumble include the overt sexual nature of Rill’s recovery (it’s the magic hoo haa) although this did not bother me. Why Vulture’s Canyon? Why would they stay there? Wouldn’t their positions take them elsewhere? Why wasn’t Katie happy as a tax attorney in Bev Hills? Didn’t she have any other friends/family she would miss? And for all the build up over Rill’s dark side, I was a little deflated (pun intended) when I discovered his dark side. Maybe I’m simply too debauched by my past erotic readings, but Rill’s passionate nature seemed quite normal to me and his angsting over his sexual beast became a bit tiresome.

There was a suspense plot tacked on to the end and generally I dislike suspense plots that are used just to heighten conflict at the end of a story, instead of well woven throughout. That said, this erotic romance was primarily focused on just Rill and Katie and their physical dynamic worked for me. think readers who liked Wicked Burn would like this one, opening scene notwithstanding. B-

Best regards,

Jane

REVIEW: Just Like Me, Only Better by Carol Snow

Jayne — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:00:51 +0000

Dear Ms. Snow,

“Just Like Me, Only Better,” is a book which Jane included in my arc shipment and which I opened with a “why not” attitude. I needed to weed down a towering pile and this one just happened to be on top. Good thing as I ended up chuckling the almost whole way and liking it a lot.

Veronica is trying to rebuild her life after her older husband found true love (with another) and moved out. Now she and her young (shared custody) son are living in a postage stamp sized guest house and carpooling the owner’s two obnoxious children to the school Ben attends and at which Roni substitute teaches. Still clinging to the edges of the same neighborhood which saw her get dumped, Roni endures the false sympathy and avid interest of her acquaintances watching her try to put her life back together.

So when friends take her out to an upscale restaurant in L.A. for her birthday, she dolls up to have a good time. And keeps being interrupted during the meal by all the staff and fellow diners who think she’s Hayley Rush, yes *the* Hayley Rush, the Hollywood starlet. When one of these people introduces himself as Hayley’s manager and asks to call Roni later, she says yes just to get rid of him. His proposal for her to impersonate Hayley in public to allow the paparazzi some staged “candid” photos comes with a salary of $100/hour and the chance to play at being a star. Roni agrees but honestly has no idea what she’s letting herself in for. As she begins to see behind the false glitter, a possible romance beckons but is it real or just another Tinsel Town illusion?

The thing that caught my attention immediately is the humor of the novel. I found it very, very funny but in a natural, laid back, self depreciating way. Since it’s an evolution of the Chick Lit novel, I’d expect some humor but this is more let’s laugh with Roni instead of at her. Or let’s contrast down-to-earth substitute teacher Roni with the flakes and weirdos who surround Hayley and her lifestyle. But even then, you pull back from going too OTT with the L.A. characters so that I can still – sorta – believe them.

And I did enjoy watching those silly Hollywood Hayley “staff.” Her harried manager, her screen writing personal assistant, her snarling cook, her stuck up stylist and – the hands down winner of the “I’d love to dish with him for a 2 hour long lunch” – her hair dresser, Stefano. Sure, he’s every caricature of the Gay hair dresser but even he admits that as he takes Roni blonde and adds her hair extensions.

Then just when I’d be on overdose of Hollywood and the ridiculous people who thrive on it, Roni’s regular life would arrive to contrast with the glitz and ground the book. Ben acts like a little boy complete with the issues that would arise from split custody and a father living a wealthier lifestyle as well as a 7 year old boy who hates it when his mother’s late to pick him up. One thing I really like is that Roni’s ex isn’t turned into some monster. Yeah, he’s something of a jerk for the way he ended his marriage but he obviously loves his son and did once try to do the right thing by Roni. And thanks for including some scenes of Roni being a teacher. I hate it when a character’s career/job is little more than window dressing in a novel.

I nailed where the romance was going to end up but have to admit that this is my least favorite aspect of the book. Roni, who is normally so level headed, seems to lose her mind. She acts like a love struck teenager who’s thrilled that the star athlete of her high school just noticed her. It almost got a little embarrassing. But at least she doesn’t have to deal with a lifetime of that you.tube video coming back to haunt her since the world thinks it’s Hayley.

Roni finds out a lot about Hollywood but also discovers things about herself and ends up growing as a person. And this is what clinched the book for me. If she had gone through all that she did and was no stronger for it, the grade would have taken a nosedive. But she learns from all her experiences and looks like she’s actually going to put those lessons to good use in what she does with her life from here on. And that’s what allowed me to close the book with a happy smile. B

~Jayne

This is a trade paperback published by Penguin. The ebook price is $9.99.

REVIEW: Butterfly Tattoo by Deidre Knight

Jane — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:47:28 +0000

Dear Ms. Knight:

There are so many blocks against reading this book that I wonder you ever had the audacity to put pen to paper. The story is told from the first person present tense in alternating points of view. It features a gay/bisexual/quasi-queer man who purportedly falls in love with a Hollywood actress. I got to the end of chapter 1 and emailed your editor, Angela James, and said, what the hell have you sent me?

Her response was an inscrutable admonishment, “keep reading.” And so I did. I haven’t said word one to Angela about the book since she sent it. The truth is that I really struggled to put into words how strongly I felt about the book.

Rebecca O’Neill was starring in a hit comedic primetime drama when a stalker flayed her face and her body scarring her dramatically and ending her promising acting career. She recovered and moved behind the scenes to development. Recovery, though, is a broad term. Rebecca still has panic attacks. She sometimes is scared by the slightest wrong movement at night. She hasn’t dated in three years, hasn’t been intimate since before the attack. Her body bears the history of her attack.

Yet Rebecca is strong in other ways. She can talk about her attack. She acknowledges her weakness. She is brave and each day moving forward is a triumph.

Michael Warner is struggling to get his feet under him and to meet the challenge of each new day after his partner of 12 years was killed in a drunk driving accident. Their daughter, Andie, has stopped calling him Daddy. The two are broken with Andie mostly silent and Michael inept at being a father by himself, consumed by the grief over Alex and self hatred at his inability to keep their family together.

Used to be I treasured putting Andrea to bed; it was something precious, and if Alex got home in time, we did it together. It always felt like the three of us had really formed a family then. Now I only want to close up shop at night. I can barely focus on her bedtime story anymore, much less enjoy reading it to her.
She knows it, too. She knows it, but I don’t think she even cares at this point. In fact, I’m pretty sure she’d rather live with anyone else but me.

One day, Andie comes to the set with Michael and is introduced to Rebecca and sees Rebecca’s scars. Andie feels an instantaneous connection for she, too, has a significant scar on her leg. A scar that stems from being in the same car accident that killed her Daddy, Alex.

Michael grabs onto this and invites Rebecca to their home. Andie’s interest in Rebecca provides cover for his own. He tells himself that he really isn’t flirting with Rebecca, that he isn’t being disloyal to Alex’s memory. But his attraction to Rebecca is strong and he’s the only one who really isn’t confused about it. After all, Alex was his only male partner and it was love that brought them together.

It is Michael’s capacity for love that allows one to overcome these barriers of gender-based sexuality. Michael isn’t defined by who he loves, but his ability to love.

"So you’re gay."
I feel the weight of Rebecca’s expectations, her disappointment about the vibe she must have detected between us.
"Well," I answer, drawing in a breath, "I was with a guy for a long time."
Rebecca shakes her head apologetically, the golden hair shimmering. "It was a stupid question."
"Not stupid," I whisper, turning toward her. "Actually, he’s the only guy I’ve ever been with. Only thing I can say for sure is that I was in love with him."

Michael feels bereft without Alex. Alex lived life as if he knew that he would die young, with a boundless self confidence, one that would allow him to pursue a straight man without pause. Michael learns through his love for Rebecca that the question of who he is can be answered by what is in his heart.

But the specter of Michael’s homosexuality hangs over Rebecca and feeds into her insecurity over her body image. It’s easy, she believes, for Michael to be with her because it’s not a true betrayal of Alex. Michael can have both Alex in his life and Rebecca. In the end, Rebecca has to trust in Michael’s love. He tells her, without words, that he’s in it for the long haul, no matter how long it takes her to believe in him.

So maybe I finally have added stalking to my list of failings because for the past seven days I’ve made a point of driving by Rebecca’s place. I just keep thinking that if she’s outside somehow, maybe going for a jog, that I can pull over and lay everything on the line. I could talk to her about Andrea’s party, find out if she plans to come.
In my mind, that party is my last real shot with her. If that moment passes us by, she’ll be like a sundial with me the shadow. Our point of intersection will pass like a lengthening shadow-’permanently.
But the drive-bys don’t yield any reward, so I’m forced to do what I’m so very terrible at: be patient. I have to let her come to me on her terms now -.
I sank down in that booth and decided I could man up on her account, become stronger and more resilient than I’d acted since we broke up. I could do the army drill and dig into the trenches for the very long haul.

The relationship between Andie and Michael is beautiful and painful. Rebecca looks at a picture of Andie, Michael and Alex:

What I instantly recall is their family portrait, the one hanging in the hallway. A dreamy photograph of the three of them, sitting together in that sun-drenched backyard, bathed in a diaphanous halo of light. Alex so alive and vital, like he might step out of the picture and talk right to me. Shock of deep auburn hair, broad grin, freckled face. Natural good looks. A good man, obviously. And then the man beside him, too. Strong and handsome, years younger than the one I’ve met in the past few days. Unlike my Michael Warner, that one’s not weary and weathered; the whole world still bows at his feet.
Then precious Andrea curled in front of them on the grass. Still a little girl, though that would soon change, because the Andrea in the portrait is as gone as Alex. And Michael. None of those three live on anymore. There are only ghosts, shades of what might have been.

There were a couple of oddities. Particularly early on, I felt that the prose was given to hyperbole at times because I wasn’t emotionally invested in the first few chapters to buy the extremity of emotion that was attempting to be conveyed.

I also wondered about the fact that Rebecca always refers to her attacker by his first name, Ben, not his last name or something more impersonal.

It’s about chapter three that I am totally swept into the story. I found I couldn’t put it down; that I was choking back tears at nearly every section to the point I felt like I was on some medieval torture rack; and when Andie and Michael find catharsis to glue their little family back together, there are simply too many holes to stop and the dam holding back the emotion breaks down.

I’ve thought a lot about this book since I read the last chapter. I felt like I knew these people who live out in Southern California. They were as real to me as my neighbors and I knew them more intimately than some of my closest friends. My throat even feels a little tight as I write out this review because I keep recycling some of the lines and moments of the story in my head.

This is a story that helps define what romance is. It’s all about the love and to some extent brings up PhÃ¨dre’s motto in Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel series “Love as thou wilt.” It’s the edict of Alex in this story and one that he taught Michael. It is Alex’s greatest legacy.

Let me state the obvious. I’m a fairly traditional romance reader. I’m not adventurous like Jayne. It’s hard for me to move outside my comfort zone . But this is a rare and different gem. It is a story I’ll treasure and remember. I hope that even if it does not net you significant financial rewards that you’ll keep writing these stories. There is an audience for it. I know there is. A-

Best regards,

Jane

This book can be purchased in ebook format from Samhain Publishing on April 21, 2009.

Thursday Afternoon Haiku Moment: A Sonnet for Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ What I Did For Love

Jaiku — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:00:57 +0000

(Based off of Shakespeare’s famous sonnet)

Shall I compare thee to the A Grade?
Thou art more grating to my skull
A good contemporary should be a lively parade
But I find this book amazingly dull.
Sometimes the heroine whines about life
And the hero pretends to be a jerk
Round after round of endless sniping strife
I despise both and hope it does not work
But just when the lies cannot get any thicker
Georgie decides that she loves Bram – it’s fate
Though they do naught but f&ck & bicker
I hate both of them – hate hate hate hate hate

All say, “Good contemp? Read a SEP!”
A great writer, but I hate your MCs.

This book can be purchased in hardcover from Amazon or ebook format from the Sony Store and other etailers beginning January 27, 2009.

REVIEW: What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Joonigrrl — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:00:34 +0000

Dear Ms. Phillips:

I count you as one of my favorite romance authors. I practically camp out at my local bookstore whenever your books are released. Needless to say, I was pretty excited to get my hands on this one.

Georgie York is best known for her role as the spunky Scooter Brown on America’s favorite sitcom "Skip and Scooter." Although she no longer has the bright red Orphan Annie hair or the trademark curls, Georgie still reigns as America’s sweetheart. Even a series of box office flops can’t seem to diminish her public appeal.

It’s not just the poor box office numbers that are plaguing Georgie. She’s also got a Brangelina-esque problem to worry about. Her movie star ex-husband Lance Marks left her for sexy do-gooder actress Jade Gentry. Barely surviving the heartbreak of her husband’s abandonment and the subsequent divorce, Georgie is shattered to find out that Jade is also pregnant. With paparazzi everywhere, Georgie goes to Vegas for a change of scenery.

Bramwell Shepherd is the Skip to Georgie’s Scooter. His career is going nowhere fast, and he’s only got himself to blame. He follows Georgie to Vegas where the former co-stars attend a party together and unintentionally drink some sort of drug laced beverage. One minute, they’re drinking and gambling. The next, they’re waking up together only to realize they got married Ross and Rachel style. In an attempt to avoid more bad publicity, Georgie convinces Bram to agree to a fake marriage for one year in exchange for half a million dollars and better press by association.

Like many of your books, What I did For Love is about second chances. A second chance at love, a second chance at a career, a second chance as a father, and so on. Although it’s a theme that touches upon most characters, it was better executed with some than with others. After some initial misgivings and despite some irritation with cranky housekeeper Chaz, I enjoyed reading about her second chance at happiness. I also enjoyed the subplot with Georgie’s career driven father. Falling under the dislike category are the Brangelina ex-husband and new wife. For a man who has been the catalyst of Georgie’s own second chance at love, it was disappointing to discover this character was so absurdly shallow and cheesy as to call into question the intelligence of our protagonist.

I noticed something right away and it’s something that jarred me from the story. I found myself comparing Georgie and Bram to two of my favorite characters from Honey Moon. Just like Honey, Georgie became America’s sweetheart as the lead on a wholesome family tv show. Like Honey, she was infatuated with her jerk of a co-star. Other similarities include growing stifled with her image and wanted a change in her career.

As for Bram, he wasn’t driven by the same demons as Eric Dillon, but he did show a similar selfishness and self-destruction in his youth. Like Eric, he too is trying to escape his past and atone for his actions. But while Eric acted liked an ass because he felt more than a little self-loathing, Bram’s destructive behavior in his youth was basically due to his desire to party too hard.

Like Honey and Eric, Georgie and Bram are an odd couple. Bram has his amazing good looks complete with chip on shoulder. Georgie isn’t conventionally beautiful, but she does have a likability that’s hard to resist. Both go their own ways only to be reunited years later and fall in love. There are of course many differences among them of which include the absence of Honey’s earlier May-December romance, roller coaster symbolism that’s kind of WTF, and the heavier tone that weighs down Honey Moon. But . . . it was just enough that I couldn’t avoid immediately spotting the similarities, making the comparison, and ultimately finding Georgie and Eric a little lacking.

Despite the comparisons, I did like Georgie and Bram to some degree. They’re by no means my favorite of your protagonists, but they each have a vulnerability that is compelling to read. For example, we find out pretty quickly that Georgie hates Bram with a passion and has ever since their tv show years. But we’re also told that:

Georgie had loved Skip Scofield. She loved everything about him. His big heart, his loyalty, the way he’d tried to protect Scooter from the Scofield family. The way he’d eventually fallen in love with her silly round face and rubber-band mouth. She’d loved everything except the man Skip turned into when the cameras stopped rolling.

I love that description. It says so much about the 16 year old girl Georgie used to be. The girl who had trouble distinguishing between reality and fiction. The girl who hadn’t always hated Bramwell Shepherd, but who had, in fact, imagined herself in love with him.

However, that was years and several difficult life lessons ago. Georgie and Bram haven’t been secretly in love with or lusting after each other all this time. They went their separate ways when the show ended, and gladly. Years later, Georgie still hasn’t forgiven him for his behavior toward her. And while Bram’s resents Georgie out of some misplaced sort of jealousy, Georgie’s anger toward him is very much deserved. Their relationship from resentment to distrust to trust to love is accompanied by your trademark humor. It didn’t work for me as well as your other books, but it’s still a very quick and easy read.

Other readers may be more amused than I by the lengths Georgie and Bram will go to in order to advance their careers and save face in the public eye. They may also be amused by the Hollywood setting and by what seems like a realistic portrayal of paparazzi and life as a celebrity. From lunch at The Ivy to mansions in the Pacific Palisades, the Hollywood setting was convincingly executed. However, this book didn’t entirely click for me for several reasons. The Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie characters were jarring as was the inevitable comparison of Georgie to Jennifer Aniston. This sort of thing may amuse others, but not me. And don’t even get me started on the SARS scare.

And although I appreciated Georgie and Bram’s vulnerability, I didn’t entirely sympathize with them. Georgie is a successful actress, she’s rich, and loved by millions, but she’s unhappy because the paparazzi have hounded her, turning her heartbreak over her divorce into a public scandal. But, as it turns out, the ex-husband was a complete ass. Why exactly was she so heartbroken? I would have been happy to be rid of the guy. And yeah, she’s not happy with her career, but did I mention that she’s frickin’ rich? Ok, so people don’t take her seriously as a dramatic actress. Too bad. Do something instead of just complaining about it. I guess I’m just not enamored enough of the celebrity lifestyle to find Georgie’s utter devotion to saving her public image- lie though it may be- a little sad.

I admired Bram’s determination to get his career on track, but I had some trouble connecting with him too. Part of that is because he threw it all away years ago, something which he can blame no one but himself. The other part is his use of Georgie to get ahead in Hollywood. It’s that mutual use of each other for their own careers that I found distasteful, and which prevented me from truly enjoying this story as I wanted to.

I would recommend this to your fans. For anyone new to your work, I would advise them to start with one of your earlier books.

B-

:) Joonigrrl/Leslie

This book can be purchased in hardcover from Amazon or ebook format from the Sony Store and other etailers beginning January 27, 2009.

REVIEW: Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Jane — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:00:46 +0000

Dear Ms. James:

Ordinarily I don’t read books that where the protagonists are lawyers, particularly trial lawyers because so few people ever get it right. When I read the blurb for this book, I admit to mentally groaning but I couldn’t help myself from opening it up, just to take a peek. I ended up reading the whole thing.

Taylor Donovan is a the hottest young trial lawyer for a big Chicago law firm not Sidley & Austin, of course, but some fictional big Chicago law firm named Gray & Dallas. I got the Austin/Dallas thing, but wasn’t quite sure as to the Sidley/Gray connection. Taylor’s specialty is employment law defense (think sexual harassment suits) and she’s on loan from Chicago to the LA office for a big thirty million dollar sexual harassment case. Her senior partner wants her to take on another, but special, assignment. As Taylor’s sole goal is to make partner, she’s willing to do just about anything.

Anything turns out to be the tutor for Jason Andrews who, besides being “Just the Sexiest Man Alive”, is starting to film a legal drama. He wants some pointers on “how real lawyers act in the courtroom. You know, demeanor, where to stand, those kinds of things.” Taylor really isn’t interested in this but knows the importance of pleasing the senior partner.

Unfortunately, Jason Andrews is kind of an asshole. He’s a movie star, after all, is used to everyone currying his favor. Due to Andrews’ bad behavior, Taylor has no interest in currying anything and uses her opportunity to show him that he isn’t worth her time. She walks out on him, repeatedly. While this makes for good scenes and sets up Taylor as an intriguing female to Jason, it really doesn’t fit with her desire to be partner more than anything. I found it odd that she never seriously questioned that her behavior with Andrews could have had a negative impact on her partnership status, particularly when it becomes clear that her status at the firm is dependent on how happy Jason Andrews is (who I kept referring to as Julie Andrews in my head).

Taylor’s seeming indifference to Jason’s magnetism peaks his interest because women fall over themselves to get to him, not away from him. While not deliberate on Taylor’s part, it’s the best way to attract someone like Jason. He loves a challenge. The more time that they spend together, the more that their attraction to each other simmers until Jason and Taylor find themselves a couple.

There is a super human aspect to Taylor that I found unreal. Not only is she the best litigator in the entire worldwide firm of Gray & Dallas but nothing, absolutely nothing, phased her. (which actually is the trait of a good trial lawyer) But she had an answer for everything and everyone. She was able to coach and deal with Jason Andrews on one hand and prepare for a thirty million dollar lawsuit on the other. Having been there, I can say that I barely have time to remember to shower, let alone be engaged in another type of high stress negotiation.

She was seemingly unmoved by being courted first by Andrews and then the next sexiest man alive, another actor who secretly and constantly feels in competition with Jason. I kept thinking that even the best trial lawyer, particularly a young female one, might have a pause or two if she found herself dating George Clooney on one hand and Brad Pitt on the other. Instead, Taylor takes all this blithely in stride. Admittedly, I am superimposing my own experiences and feelings onto this story and those who don’t identify with Taylor might not care about the details I am describing. It’s probably a reason I should stay away from lawyer books. On the other hand, the description of Taylor’s lawyering and the courtroom related scenes (including the coaching scenes with Jason) were very accurate and I enjoyed that quite a bit. I also wonder, conversely, whether a non lawyer would find those detailed scenes as interesting as I.

Taylor rolled her eyes disdainfully. “You’re way too confident.”

“Do you know that the average American woman between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five has seen each of my movies six times?”

Taylor scoffed at this. “Who told you that bullshit statistic?”

“Okay then, how many times have you thrown down ten dollars to see me on the big screen?”

“Not six.”

“How many times?”

She shrugged nonchalantly, trying to think of a way to lawyer herself out of the question.

Jason’s eyes widened at her gesture. “Oh, I’m sorry, Ms. Donovan, but your answers need to be audible for the court reporter.”

Like, the “audible for the court reporter” thing is hilarious to me because lawyers have to remind witnesses about every fifteen minutes that they can’t shake their heads or go uh huh or mmmhhmm because the court reporter can’t transcribe actions or inaudible responses. Would non lawyers think that’s as funny as me? But even beyond the court room scenes, the dialogue is humorous:

The point, Jeremiah, is that this is not how things were supposed to go tonight.”

Jeremy reached out and solemnly put his hand on the Sexiest Man Alive’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Jason. But maybe she’s just not that into you.”

It was a joke, but Jason’s face suddenly filled with worry. “Do you really think that could be it?”

Despite the fact that he generally enjoyed any fun that could be had at Jason’s expense, Jeremy felt a little bad seeing the look of concern on his friend’s face.

“No, I actually don’t think that’s it,” he said reassuringly. “But I also don’t think she’s going to admit how she feels.”

The words seemed to reinvigorate Jason. “Well, too bad for her.” He ignored the look Jeremy gave him. “Hey-’don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed this game of hard to get that she’s played. It’s been like three weeks of foreplay.”

Jeremy rolled his eyes. The comment wasn’t even worth responding to.

“But it’s time for things to start moving along, to where she and I both know this is headed,” Jason continued, fully confident.

“And I suppose, Evil Genius, that you have just the plan to accomplish this?” Jeremy paused when he saw the sly smile on Jason’s face. “You actually do have a plan, don’t you?”

“I do,” Jason said proudly.

“Do I even dare to ask what this plan might be?”

“Every woman’s weakness,” Jason told him. “Jealousy.” He folded his arms and leaned back against the balcony ledge. “Let her see me with someone else, and then we’ll see how stubborn she is.”

Jeremy waved this off. “Taylor’s hardly the type to get into some catfight for you.”

“That’s not what I’m looking for,” Jason said. Then he paused, as if suddenly getting the visual. “As hot as that might be-”

As for Jason, he’s incorrigible. He’s rude, self centered, and fairly shallow. While he falls in love with the tart Taylor, he doesn’t change much as a character. At least, he’s not shown to change. Instead, we are told he’s a better person just for loving Taylor and because he’s had the same best friend since high school. I guess I saw that he was loyal, good with a quip, but not very deep. This might be intentional as the story is definitely more lighthearted than angsty.

I’m a big fan of the straight contemporary novel and this one has alot of the features that I think readers of contemporaries look for such as great dialogue exchanges and contemporary situations. The Hollywood aspect might hold people back as some believe that actors (and athletes) can never be faithful. That’s not a theme of this book and each reader will have to check their own suspension reflex. For me, it was a quick and breezy read that didn’t evoke many tears, but did generate alot of smiles. The reason for the B- was the lack of emotional connection I had to the characters and the superhuman characterization of Taylor. I think if the characters had been less perfect, more flawed, I would have enjoyed it more. B-

Best regards,

Jane

This book can be purchased in mass market on October7, 2008, from Amazon or Powells. No ebook format link available yet.

REVIEW: What I Really Want to Do is Direct by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout

Jayne — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 11:16:04 +0000

Dear Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout

Who knew that a focus puller was so important to a movie? Not moi, I assure you. But now I do and I loved learning about it in “What I Really Want to Do is Direct.” Though told in 1st person (after all, it is Chick Lit and that’s almost mandatory), you give us lots of clues about the other characters and Roxanne is so honest about herself that I always felt I knew everything about them.

The script detail inserts are a great way to convey just how hard it is to bring the world the latest alien monster, big budget, loaded up on pyrotechnics movie for our local cineplex. And in true Chick Lit fashion our heroine proves herself to her boss, proves that the bimbo who was trying to get her job is an idiot and still manages to get her man at the end. B

~ Jayne

This book can be purchased at Amazon. No ebook format.

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