Jules wrote: “That said, I probably should have included a spot late in the book that referenced what happened that night with the locked in/locked out thing. The reason she couldn’t leave was because he didn’t want her to. He did not, however, realize just how much control he had over the magic at this point. It was only later that he realized he could do just about anything except kill Alexa (though he does try.)”

Jules, I think that the way it was written without the explanations was a great way to suck readers into the story…when I read it, I felt that
the reason Alexa couldn’t leave was also linked to the necklace her BIL gave her…I felt it was her link to Damon somehow, which made his power over her even more potent…Hey if I was in Alexa’s position for even one night…I would be happy as a clam…even if it was just some weird erotic dream, which is not the case with her…at first, I thought she was dreaming too, but I quickly dashed that thought away, because I remembered who the author was…you, Jules…your style is very thought-provoking, witty, sexy, etc…I can never go wrong with a JL book or any of the other plotmonkey books either…

I am glad that you were able to read both good and bad comments because it helps you to see what everyone thought…but, I would keep drinking the slushies while reading the good comments over and over again though…it helps to dull the pain…look at it this way…the good far outweigh the bad, right?

Les, it is good to see you hear…Jules, we got your back…hahahahahaha…see you in the jungle…

Peace and love,
Paula R.

I think it is, Robin. Witness the many creamy/ivory/pearly/alabaster/magnolia skinned romance heroines. The kind where you can see “the faint tracery of blue veins” under her skin. That faint tracery thing is something I’ve read many, many times in romances. Yet the hero is usually quite tanned, sometimes even described as brown or mahagany.

Oh, yeah, and all those scenes where the hero’s big, dark hand is contrasted to the heroine’s fragile white skin. I guess if the hero is Caucasian the fantasy is that of the eroticization of the hero who may look “savage” but is still culturally familiar (assuming white as the norm, which Romance so often does). Yet one more way in which race is both absent and present simultaneously.

I think it is, Robin. Witness the many creamy/ivory/pearly/alabaster/magnolia skinned romance heroines. The kind where you can see “the faint tracery of blue veins” under her skin. That faint tracery thing is something I’ve read many, many times in romances. Yet the hero is usually quite tanned, sometimes even described as brown or mahagany. This applies to contemporary and historical heroes. Why would an English aristocrat in the 19th century be tanned?

Of course by now I know that light=feminine and dark=masculine. I’ve also noticed from the comments at romance forums that many readers believe that a blond hero is not masculine. Not being part of the target audience for dominant culture romance it took me a while to understand this.

Oh, maybe you’re referring to covers like the second image on that page. Yikes.

Oh, and speaking of redheaded heroines, how about this? I really do like that cover (not to mention the book), cheesy as it is.

Now with the preponderance of photograph covers, maybe that will change. I know that Sue Kearney had this blond hero on one of her covers who was HOT.

I don’t know why my heroines are never blonde…I’ve written over 25 books and I think two were blonde. I guess the heroine is always a bit of me and I’ve been both brunette and red-head, so therefore so are my heroines. I did, however, put in blonde highlights about the time I started writing Lauren, the heroine of the next Phantom book. I did not even realize that until right now. That’s kind of creepy.

LOL; I have a friend who insists that Linda Howard’s entire writing trajectory changed when she dyed her hair blond (and hasn’t read her since).

I think there are not so many blond heroes because blond men do not look good on the covers.

Because they don’t look tough enough (i.e. tall dark and handsome)? I kind of like the original clinch cover of The Windflower with Devon’s blond locks, but maybe it makes a difference that the cover is painted not photographed. In any case, I’d still like to see more fair heroes. I don’t really have a looks preference for heroines.

I’m by no means a funny person

HA!

Seriously.

I know several authors who don’t write blond men for this very reason. The one blond hero I can remember writing…was on my Blaze that got the very naked male torso…no head. Sold very well.

I don’t know why my heroines are never blonde…I’ve written over 25 books and I think two were blonde. I guess the heroine is always a bit of me and I’ve been both brunette and red-head, so therefore so are my heroines. I did, however, put in blonde highlights about the time I started writing Lauren, the heroine of the next Phantom book. I did not even realize that until right now. That’s kind of creepy.

the next heroine is blonde and I never write blondes.

It seems to me that there are quite a few blond heroines in Romance, but not so many blond heroes (that’s one of the reasons I love the old Laura London books — MANY blond heroes). I often wonder whether it’s the light/dark dichotomy at work in the genre.

I’ll never forget when I moved to California with my naturally blond hair, and I got a number of compliments on the color, followed by a request for where I got it colored, lol.

Jane, first, thanks for the review. You may not have liked all elements, but I feel like you “got” what I was trying to accomplish, even if it didn’t always work for you. You’re right…I didn’t spoonfeed a lot of information about the magic because the characters themselves (and therefore, the readers) had to figure it all out, so I decided to let the reader do that as well. Sometimes, the characters will be wrong. The full explanation of the curse and the magic cannot really come until Rogan comes into the picture. For real. Sort of.

That said, I probably should have included a spot late in the book that referenced what happened that night with the locked in/locked out thing. The reason she couldn’t leave was because he didn’t want her to. He did not, however, realize just how much control he had over the magic at this point. It was only later that he realized he could do just about anything except kill Alexa (though he does try.)

Hey, Jo, I’m a red-head, too. By choice. Have been for nearly eight years. LOVE IT.

But Alexa being a red-head did have a point. I didn’t just make her one. And if it makes anyone feel better, the next heroine is blonde and I never write blondes. She just had to be blonde. Sometimes, I have to just accept these things.

Barbara, yes, I think you’re right. Stay away from this book. There is humor. I’m by no means a funny person, but sometimes my characters say the darndedest things.

And thanks to everyone who loved the book so far and for all the compliments on my cover. It is especially striking in person. NAL/Signet really did a fantabulous job in capturing the romance and the ghostliness. I was very pleased.

Now I’m home with no Grand Marnier slushies. Bummer. I’ll just keep reading the good comments over and over again.

I don’t have red hair (Here’s one!), but I birthed THREE kids who do! And have a stepson now with red hair, too. LOL!

Katiebabs said-
“I have a weakness for redheaded heroines since I am one myself. :)
Barbara B you made me have a good chuckle.”

Katiebabs, I think redheads are lovely, but in IRL you guys are almost as rare as unicorns. That’s so not true in Romanceland. At this point I can honestly say that I would spend a day working on a chain gang before I would read yet another romance with a red-haired heroine. At least chain ganging would be a new experience. That’s how utterly tired I am of redheaded heroines.