Comments on: REVIEW: Desperately Seeking a Duke by Celeste Bradley

By: Trish G

Trish G — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:55:10 +0000

I’m a die hard Bradley fan and I was very disappointed that I didn’t love (or even like) this book. At first I was hooked, and then everything just fell apart for me. The part I absolutely hated was the storyline with the solicitors. Everytime I saw their names come up I cringed. I know what a good writer Bradley is though and I have every intention of reading the next two books, and I have faith that they’ll be better. I’m especially looking forward to Sophie’s story. Deidre never really grew on me, but the excerpt seems promising. I think Bradley just let this storyline get out of hand.

Also, I highly suggest that you read her other books. The beginning of the Liar’s series and most of the Royal Four books are tremendous. I’ve read To Wed a Scandalous Spy multiple times and it still makes me go “wow” everytime.

By: Carole C.

Carole C. — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:37:15 +0000

Well, I have read quite a few historical romance and Celeste Bradley one of my favorite author. She is funny, her premises are always original.
I will admit that “Desperately Seeking a Duke” is not my favorite but it is still worth reading it.
I like her early spy novels best but I understand that she might want to try some new themes. Her books have always been very pleasant to read. Her elipses keep the books lively.
I would not judge any grammar flaws as english is not my mother tongue.
Celeste, please keep entertain us!

Carole C.

By: Celeste Bradley

Celeste Bradley — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:31:32 +0000

Well, I’ll admit I am an ellipse junkie. This might result from the fact that I actually think that way, in bits and fragments. No excuse, I know, just a possible explanation.

Yet I like this book. I think that over the last ten years I may have written better and I may have written worse. Every story is different because every heroine is different. At least no one can complain that they’re all the same!

A beautifully written sentence is only as good as the story it is in. I will always be disdained by grammar-gurus, probably deservedly, but I do know that I can tell one hell of a story. I consider myself an entertainer, delivering delicious escapist fiction to hardworking women. I do my best to write the truest characters and most entertaining story I can. The grammar flaws, well, those are embarrassing to be sure and I will always endeavor to be a better and more writerly writer–but never at the cost of telling my story my way.

And to tell the truth, until I became a writer I never noticed a single ellipse in my reading. I just read right through them.

BTW, “miracle of manliness” wasn’t me talking, it was Phoebe. She’s very romantic. It was all I could do to keep her in line. Be grateful that I wouldn’t let her say half the gooey things she wanted to say!

Celeste

By: Jill A

Jill A — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 15:58:19 +0000

“A miracle of manliness”? If this is a typical example of the prose style in this book, I think I’ll leave it off my TBR list. Not my cup of tea at all.

By: Barbara B.

Barbara B. — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 04:57:27 +0000

Patricia Briggs said-
“I would say that it is possible to take an overused premise and make a very good book out of it if the storytelling is good enough.”

It certainly is possible.

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:48:06 +0000

I agree, and I always find those books that manage to absorb me completely despite an overused premise fascinating. I think it takes a lot of skill to do that.

On another note, I haven’t read Bradley’s book and can’t offer an opinion on the ellipses issue, but I liked her turns of phrase in the section that you quoted, Jane.

By: Patricia Briggs

Patricia Briggs — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:07:04 +0000

Not commenting on the book, which I haven’t read yet. I would say that it is possible to take an overused premise and make a very good book out of it if the storytelling is good enough. Take Wildside by Stephen Gould (he also wrote Jumper, an excellent novel). The premise of Wildside is a small group of high school age kids discover a gateway to a parallel universe — a gateway they must protect from the Evil Authorities who would misuse it. Anyone who ever watched a Disney movie or read a selection of 1950’s SF for boys will find that premise familar — but the book is fantastic.

I have a great deal of respect for authors who write for the romance lines, where so many rules have been place upon them, who still manage to write entertaining, wonderful books that feel original.

By: Marg

Marg — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:07:08 +0000

A demon called Demon – surely there is more imagination than that around!

By: Barbara B.

Barbara B. — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:22:26 +0000

Jane said-
“I felt like I read this story before. Everything about it seemed stale, from the cover, to the setup, to even the hero’s name: Raphael. I think we need to put a moratorium on hero names. No more Lucien, Damon, Demon. No more Gideon, Raphael, or any kind of heaven/hell based etymology.”

The romance publishing business is so cynical. They see us as sheep who will read the same g’damned story again and again. They’re right, too. At least it’s true of a significant portion of the readership. Publishers KNOW that they don’t HAVE to give us original stories. Many of us will keep reading our favorite authors long after they’ve ceased to be original or interesting. Witness the played out series that go on and on and on. Many times I’ve seen readers say that they continue reading a series gone bad because they hope the author will get back on track.

I mounted my own plea for a moratorium on certain names over at RTB a while back. Since you have a lot of Romanceland cred I hope your plea works better than mine did! I’ve also begged for a moratorium on the most overused storylines and tropes, but that too was a no go. Jane, I know you went to that convention in Dallas last year. Was there a session where the writers decided which names and storylines they’re going to flood the market with next? I’d appreciate a heads-up on that.

Lucien, Damon, and Demon have also had dubious runs as Regency romance heroes and vampires. Are they now popular demon names?

By: Marg

Marg — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:22:09 +0000

Celeste Bradley was one of the first romance novelists I read, and I loved her early spy novels. The last two have been a little more average. I will read this book, but I am not sure whether to let myself anticipate it or to just read it when I am ready and see how things go.