Ten Things I Love About You - Julia Quinn (Avon, 2010)
Romancing the Duke - Tessa Dare (Avon 2014)
Yes, so I went to the library, and this is what happened. Quinn's book is a fairly rollicking account of Annabel's experience trying to avoid marriage to a much older duke looking for a bride who will give him an heir, which falling in with the one man the duke most hates, his nephew and current heir. Oh, and lots of lists. I like lists.
Dare's is about the a young woman who is essentially Christopher Robin, the daughter of a fairy-tale author who just happened to cast her in a starring role. But now she's destitute after her father's death, and latches on to her one chance at her own fairy-tale ending: the castle that has somehow been willed to her. Problem is, the castle still retains a duke, one with his own tortured history and who still believes himself the rightful owner of the castle. Plenty of plot twists.
Plenty of cute. Good selection for the end-of-semester rush at school.
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label romance. Show all posts
Sunday, June 01, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Shopgirl
The Makeup Girl - Andrea Semple (Kensington Books, 2005)
The Bridal Season - Connie Brockway (Island Books, 2001)
A Kiss at Midnight - Eloisa James (Avon, 2010)
All of the heroines in this trio of novels are working girls. In Semple's, Faith works at a makeup counter, and also happens to make up most of the facts of her life, including a sexy and successful boyfriend named Adam. But when she meets a guy by the name, she starts to wonder if she can make her lies a reality. Fairly standard British chick list. Breezy, sweet, fun, although the love story feels only partially formed. (Maybe due to the short short chapters? 100 in just over 300 pages.)
Brockway's heroine, Letty, is a song girl on the run, who finds herself masquerading as a celebrated wedding planner to the Victorian elite. Unfortunately the area is under the jurisdiction of a stickler for law and justice. Except she awakens in him desires he thought had long been extinguished, and he gives her hopes of a life more glorious than the one she had eked out in London.
And lastly, there's Kate, or shall we call her Cinderella? She's been hard at work trying to keep her father's estate afloat while her stepmother squanders their wealth on jewels and dresses. Don't even ask why and how Kate ends up (also pretending to be someone else - yay for helpful plot devices) at the English castle of a Prussian prince. He's betrothed to a princess whose money will keep his eclectic collection of relatives afloat and she's not much interested in the arrogant sort. And yet they are drawn like magnets. It can only be flirtation -- both recognize their responsibilities -- until a magical ball leaves them wishing for more. (Oh, plus archeology!)
All three were charming, but I think I may finally need to take a break from the sweets.
The Bridal Season - Connie Brockway (Island Books, 2001)
A Kiss at Midnight - Eloisa James (Avon, 2010)
All of the heroines in this trio of novels are working girls. In Semple's, Faith works at a makeup counter, and also happens to make up most of the facts of her life, including a sexy and successful boyfriend named Adam. But when she meets a guy by the name, she starts to wonder if she can make her lies a reality. Fairly standard British chick list. Breezy, sweet, fun, although the love story feels only partially formed. (Maybe due to the short short chapters? 100 in just over 300 pages.)
Brockway's heroine, Letty, is a song girl on the run, who finds herself masquerading as a celebrated wedding planner to the Victorian elite. Unfortunately the area is under the jurisdiction of a stickler for law and justice. Except she awakens in him desires he thought had long been extinguished, and he gives her hopes of a life more glorious than the one she had eked out in London.
And lastly, there's Kate, or shall we call her Cinderella? She's been hard at work trying to keep her father's estate afloat while her stepmother squanders their wealth on jewels and dresses. Don't even ask why and how Kate ends up (also pretending to be someone else - yay for helpful plot devices) at the English castle of a Prussian prince. He's betrothed to a princess whose money will keep his eclectic collection of relatives afloat and she's not much interested in the arrogant sort. And yet they are drawn like magnets. It can only be flirtation -- both recognize their responsibilities -- until a magical ball leaves them wishing for more. (Oh, plus archeology!)
All three were charming, but I think I may finally need to take a break from the sweets.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Oh Valentine
The Trouble with Valentine's Day - Rachel Gibson (Avon Books, 2005)
How to Marry a Marquis - Julia Quinn (Avon Books, 1999)
It's February, so how could I not pick up the first book? And it's another one of those books where the protagonist is a former hockey player. Teemu Selanne even makes a brief appearance, on the television, where Katie astutely points out how hot he is. (This is during his Avalanche days though, so ugh.) But there really isn't much hockey. Katie has retreated to her grandfather's home, to help the widower run his store and get away from stresses back home in Las Vegas. Rob has retreated to the town where his mother now lives, following a shocking incident that ended his hockey career. And I feel like that's all I need to say.
Oh, except the Valentine's connection: the book starts on Valentine's Day, when Katie hits on a hot stranger in a bar on the way to town, is rebuffed, and later humiliated when the hot guy turns out to be her neighbor. Or, and he didn't turn her down for the reasons she expected.
Going back in time was a bit more fun. Elizabeth needs to marry money in order to care for her orphaned siblings, and when she comes across the embarrassingly titled "How to Marry a Marquis," she can't help but look through it. Funny thing is, there actually is a marquis around, except he's masquerading as an estate manager for spy-ish reasons. (As one does.) When they meet and sparks fly, she's sad that she's falling for a guy who can't solve her money woes, and he's not sure whether he ought to reveal his true identity. And when she finds out, the ensuing bedlam seems like something out of a Moss Hart/George Kaufman play. Delightful. Hard to believe, but delightful.
(Don't expect my romance reading pace to fall off anytime soon.)
How to Marry a Marquis - Julia Quinn (Avon Books, 1999)
It's February, so how could I not pick up the first book? And it's another one of those books where the protagonist is a former hockey player. Teemu Selanne even makes a brief appearance, on the television, where Katie astutely points out how hot he is. (This is during his Avalanche days though, so ugh.) But there really isn't much hockey. Katie has retreated to her grandfather's home, to help the widower run his store and get away from stresses back home in Las Vegas. Rob has retreated to the town where his mother now lives, following a shocking incident that ended his hockey career. And I feel like that's all I need to say.
Oh, except the Valentine's connection: the book starts on Valentine's Day, when Katie hits on a hot stranger in a bar on the way to town, is rebuffed, and later humiliated when the hot guy turns out to be her neighbor. Or, and he didn't turn her down for the reasons she expected.
Going back in time was a bit more fun. Elizabeth needs to marry money in order to care for her orphaned siblings, and when she comes across the embarrassingly titled "How to Marry a Marquis," she can't help but look through it. Funny thing is, there actually is a marquis around, except he's masquerading as an estate manager for spy-ish reasons. (As one does.) When they meet and sparks fly, she's sad that she's falling for a guy who can't solve her money woes, and he's not sure whether he ought to reveal his true identity. And when she finds out, the ensuing bedlam seems like something out of a Moss Hart/George Kaufman play. Delightful. Hard to believe, but delightful.
(Don't expect my romance reading pace to fall off anytime soon.)
Thursday, February 06, 2014
Fake engagements!
Dukes to the Left of Me, Princes to the Right - Kieran Kramer (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2010)
Crush on You - Christie Ridgway (Berkley Sensation, 2010)
Sorry folks, this is how it's going to be for awhile. In spite of all my past, present, and future mockery, few things are as stress-relieving for me as light-hearted romance novels.
And this time, instead of fake marriages, there are fake engagements! (Well, sort of.) Huzzah! First up is Poppy, who has gotten out of a slew of proposals by talking up her imaginary beau, the Duke of Drummond. This gets awkward when he shows up and pretty much backs her into a corner for his own purposes. Hence they are engaged, which infuriates Poppy, until it doesn't. Oh, and some Russian twins have their amorous eyes on the two of them as well. Good times.
Next is Alessandra, who deals more in almost-weddings. Tragedy marred what was supposed to be her wedding day, so it seems a little weird that she's refitting her family winery into a hot new wedding locale. But that's what you have to do to save the family business, sometimes. And then there's Penn, whose backstory is absurd, but he's the handsome host of one of those heartwarming home remodeling shows, and has reasons to help out with the winery. But they are not the most interesting couple in the book. The B plot here is superb. Clare's upcoming nuptials are the winery's path to salvation, but she's starting to look at her long-time BFF in a new way. So yeah, the fake engagement isn't particularly obvious from this synopsis, but it's sort of there, I promise.
And I'm going back to the library tomorrow :) On the other hand, I'm also reading Nabokov's memoir, so I think they even each other out.
Crush on You - Christie Ridgway (Berkley Sensation, 2010)
Sorry folks, this is how it's going to be for awhile. In spite of all my past, present, and future mockery, few things are as stress-relieving for me as light-hearted romance novels.
And this time, instead of fake marriages, there are fake engagements! (Well, sort of.) Huzzah! First up is Poppy, who has gotten out of a slew of proposals by talking up her imaginary beau, the Duke of Drummond. This gets awkward when he shows up and pretty much backs her into a corner for his own purposes. Hence they are engaged, which infuriates Poppy, until it doesn't. Oh, and some Russian twins have their amorous eyes on the two of them as well. Good times.
Next is Alessandra, who deals more in almost-weddings. Tragedy marred what was supposed to be her wedding day, so it seems a little weird that she's refitting her family winery into a hot new wedding locale. But that's what you have to do to save the family business, sometimes. And then there's Penn, whose backstory is absurd, but he's the handsome host of one of those heartwarming home remodeling shows, and has reasons to help out with the winery. But they are not the most interesting couple in the book. The B plot here is superb. Clare's upcoming nuptials are the winery's path to salvation, but she's starting to look at her long-time BFF in a new way. So yeah, the fake engagement isn't particularly obvious from this synopsis, but it's sort of there, I promise.
And I'm going back to the library tomorrow :) On the other hand, I'm also reading Nabokov's memoir, so I think they even each other out.
Friday, January 17, 2014
Fake marriages, there were none
The Duke is Mine - Eloisa James (Avon, 2012)
Rescue Me - Rachel Gibson (Avon, 2012)
So here's the thing. I always thought I preferred contemporary romance, and maybe I do, but I'm starting to get the appeal of the period romances. Nineteenth-century England is an exciting place.
As I mentioned, no fake marriages, although marriage is a driving force in the plot. A wedding brings Sadie back to Texas, where she meets ex-Navy SEAL Vince, in town to see his aunt. Since their stays are both temporary, they figure they would be good company for one another. And you know where this is going, except you might be surprised at how much time they spend apart, each battling their own demons.
Olivia is betrothed, not a situation she particularly craves. But that's not the marriage in question here. The real involved Tarquin [really?] who has allowed his mother to pretty much select his bride and who thus finds himself playing host to two eligible ladies, one of whom is Olivia's sister. And Olivia is along for the ride too. Just go with it. And there is much banter and adorableness. So much banter. Why aren't romance novels all banter?
Rescue Me - Rachel Gibson (Avon, 2012)
So here's the thing. I always thought I preferred contemporary romance, and maybe I do, but I'm starting to get the appeal of the period romances. Nineteenth-century England is an exciting place.
As I mentioned, no fake marriages, although marriage is a driving force in the plot. A wedding brings Sadie back to Texas, where she meets ex-Navy SEAL Vince, in town to see his aunt. Since their stays are both temporary, they figure they would be good company for one another. And you know where this is going, except you might be surprised at how much time they spend apart, each battling their own demons.
Olivia is betrothed, not a situation she particularly craves. But that's not the marriage in question here. The real involved Tarquin [really?] who has allowed his mother to pretty much select his bride and who thus finds himself playing host to two eligible ladies, one of whom is Olivia's sister. And Olivia is along for the ride too. Just go with it. And there is much banter and adorableness. So much banter. Why aren't romance novels all banter?
Saturday, September 21, 2013
When the weather gets hot...
True Confessions - Rachel Gibson (Avon 2001)
...I start craving books about the rural Mountain West. Or the South. I'm kind of easy to please that way. What I do not crave is a 2500 year old text about the Peloponnesian War. So I'm still plugging along on that.
This was my break from that about 2-3 weeks ago. Hope takes refuge in an idyllic Idaho town to get her groove back in her tabloid stories. But it turns out the sexy sheriff also has ties to Los Angeles. And when they meet, sparks fly. In all sorts of directions.
Can I write the back covers for romance novels? Please? I'll keep practicing and getting better at it.
No fake marriages, but plenty of love under false pretenses.
...I start craving books about the rural Mountain West. Or the South. I'm kind of easy to please that way. What I do not crave is a 2500 year old text about the Peloponnesian War. So I'm still plugging along on that.
This was my break from that about 2-3 weeks ago. Hope takes refuge in an idyllic Idaho town to get her groove back in her tabloid stories. But it turns out the sexy sheriff also has ties to Los Angeles. And when they meet, sparks fly. In all sorts of directions.
Can I write the back covers for romance novels? Please? I'll keep practicing and getting better at it.
No fake marriages, but plenty of love under false pretenses.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Fake marriage! Amnesia! Huzzah!
Tempting the Bride - Sherry Thomas (Berkley Sensation, 2012)
End trilogy. (Parts 1 & 2 here and here.) In the first book, one driving motive in the plot is keeping Baby Sis away from an affair with a married man. In the second, you get a bit more of that. So here in the third, Helena is frustrated like mad. In large part because her family got to her lover and now he's staying away (hmph) but also because her brother's best friend is continuing his role as "bane of Helena's existence."
And like any young boy on a playground, this is of course because he's madly in love. But of course Helena somehow is fooled by his caustic comments, and troubled by the twinge of attraction.
Fortunately, FAKE MARRIAGE! Helena almost gets caught in a compromising position, but Lord Hastings (ever the protector) makes sure she is caught with him instead of her lover. So they have to elope to save her reputation. (Natch.) And then, for good measure, she ends up losing her memory in a crazy accident, giving them the chance to start over in their relationship.
Cute, but.... I get the reasoning behind the accident. And it works. But the dramatic hum of energy that comes from watching them antagonize each other is more fun. I would have rather watched him win her over from that state.
And so I move on to Thucydides. Seriously. Which means that while I'm plodding through the Peloponnesian War, expect plenty more lighthearted distractions.
End trilogy. (Parts 1 & 2 here and here.) In the first book, one driving motive in the plot is keeping Baby Sis away from an affair with a married man. In the second, you get a bit more of that. So here in the third, Helena is frustrated like mad. In large part because her family got to her lover and now he's staying away (hmph) but also because her brother's best friend is continuing his role as "bane of Helena's existence."
And like any young boy on a playground, this is of course because he's madly in love. But of course Helena somehow is fooled by his caustic comments, and troubled by the twinge of attraction.
Fortunately, FAKE MARRIAGE! Helena almost gets caught in a compromising position, but Lord Hastings (ever the protector) makes sure she is caught with him instead of her lover. So they have to elope to save her reputation. (Natch.) And then, for good measure, she ends up losing her memory in a crazy accident, giving them the chance to start over in their relationship.
Cute, but.... I get the reasoning behind the accident. And it works. But the dramatic hum of energy that comes from watching them antagonize each other is more fun. I would have rather watched him win her over from that state.
And so I move on to Thucydides. Seriously. Which means that while I'm plodding through the Peloponnesian War, expect plenty more lighthearted distractions.
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
I can't help myself, part 2
The Earl is Mine - Kieran Kramer (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2013)
...and so we move on to the man named Brady, and the three boys of his own. Marcia got herself settled, so now it's Greg's turn. This time, the love interest is an old childhood friend, his godfather's niece. But he's pulled back from her and everyone else after learning a dreadful secret on his mother's deathbed. Oh, and she's off to follow her dreams, at least the ones that aren't him. Are you surprised that this leads to her running off and cross-dressing and much hijinks?
Like most romance novelists that I've come across (and the sample size is admittedly small), Kramer seems to care a lot about portraying women that are independent and willing to follow their dreams, and having that spark be what makes men love them. But she also plays around quite a bit with questions of legitimacy and parentage. It makes you wonder what's in store for the rest of the Bradys.
...and so we move on to the man named Brady, and the three boys of his own. Marcia got herself settled, so now it's Greg's turn. This time, the love interest is an old childhood friend, his godfather's niece. But he's pulled back from her and everyone else after learning a dreadful secret on his mother's deathbed. Oh, and she's off to follow her dreams, at least the ones that aren't him. Are you surprised that this leads to her running off and cross-dressing and much hijinks?
Like most romance novelists that I've come across (and the sample size is admittedly small), Kramer seems to care a lot about portraying women that are independent and willing to follow their dreams, and having that spark be what makes men love them. But she also plays around quite a bit with questions of legitimacy and parentage. It makes you wonder what's in store for the rest of the Bradys.
Monday, July 29, 2013
I can't help myself
Loving Lady Marcia - Kieran Kramer (St. Martin's Paperbacks, 2012)
I am sorry, but I'm not sure how you resist a romance novel series starring the Bradys, three sons and three daughters, brought together when their parents married and somehow formed a family... you get the idea. It's been probably 25 years since I've seen The Brady Bunch, so I'm sure there were allusions all over the place that I missed. (I barely noticed Alice.)
Anyway, that's pretty much the most important thing to say about the book. This one's about Marcia, unlucky in love as a girl, and now trying to prove her independence, except for this guy who keeps getting in the way. The rest of the siblings still to come...
I am sorry, but I'm not sure how you resist a romance novel series starring the Bradys, three sons and three daughters, brought together when their parents married and somehow formed a family... you get the idea. It's been probably 25 years since I've seen The Brady Bunch, so I'm sure there were allusions all over the place that I missed. (I barely noticed Alice.)
Anyway, that's pretty much the most important thing to say about the book. This one's about Marcia, unlucky in love as a girl, and now trying to prove her independence, except for this guy who keeps getting in the way. The rest of the siblings still to come...
Saturday, June 15, 2013
"Old timey" hockey is BS
Icebreaker - Deirdre Martin (Berkley Sensation, 2011)
At first, I couldn't figure out what made me so cranky about this book. It follows a formula that has worked well enough for me in the past: urban career woman ends up working for/with a hockey team [other sports acceptable] and is drawn to the no-nonsense, driven captain.
In this case, Sinead O'Brien is defending Adam Perry against trumped up assault charges stemming for a fairly brutal (albeit not uncommon) hit on another team's player. Obviously, the assault charge thing is absurd, fine. But it raises an entire plotline that posits Adam as the heroic defending of traditional hockey, against suits that are trying to sissify the game. While I'm as eager as the next girl to see Gary Bettman hilariously skewered as a greasy, greedy, union-busting lawyer, this plot rankles. Big time.
I'm sorry, but even in 2011 (especially in 2011) the issue of headshots in professional hockey was too big to dismiss so blithely. It also happened to be the year my very favorite player - the reason I became a hockey fan in the first place - finally retired, because doctors told him continuing to play was far too risky given his history of concussions. What Martin does - probably without intending to, or maybe she just disagrees with me - is glorify a style of play that became increasingly dangerous, that takes headshots, concussions, and brain damage as an acceptable price to pay. I'm sorry, but I can't get on board with that, and as a result, I could only celebrate the idea that Adam Perry retired, allowing the "evil suits" on the Board of Governors to really push the kinds of rule changes that would make hockey more about skills and less about trying to injure your opponent in the name of sport.
At first, I couldn't figure out what made me so cranky about this book. It follows a formula that has worked well enough for me in the past: urban career woman ends up working for/with a hockey team [other sports acceptable] and is drawn to the no-nonsense, driven captain.
In this case, Sinead O'Brien is defending Adam Perry against trumped up assault charges stemming for a fairly brutal (albeit not uncommon) hit on another team's player. Obviously, the assault charge thing is absurd, fine. But it raises an entire plotline that posits Adam as the heroic defending of traditional hockey, against suits that are trying to sissify the game. While I'm as eager as the next girl to see Gary Bettman hilariously skewered as a greasy, greedy, union-busting lawyer, this plot rankles. Big time.
I'm sorry, but even in 2011 (especially in 2011) the issue of headshots in professional hockey was too big to dismiss so blithely. It also happened to be the year my very favorite player - the reason I became a hockey fan in the first place - finally retired, because doctors told him continuing to play was far too risky given his history of concussions. What Martin does - probably without intending to, or maybe she just disagrees with me - is glorify a style of play that became increasingly dangerous, that takes headshots, concussions, and brain damage as an acceptable price to pay. I'm sorry, but I can't get on board with that, and as a result, I could only celebrate the idea that Adam Perry retired, allowing the "evil suits" on the Board of Governors to really push the kinds of rule changes that would make hockey more about skills and less about trying to injure your opponent in the name of sport.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Computer reading
Strange Bedpersons - Jennifer Crusie (HQN, 1994, 2009)
Was playing around with ebooks and ended up downloading this to my computer, and then discovering that I couldn't transfer it to my iPhone. (Note to self: pay more attention to ebook downloading rules)
Anyway, adorable. Took my laptop to bed with me a few times so I could read this tale of a free-spirit teacher and a yuppie attorney finding love. Much cuteness, and a nice escape during a busy period. But be prepared for pretty much every romance stereotype under the sun.
Was playing around with ebooks and ended up downloading this to my computer, and then discovering that I couldn't transfer it to my iPhone. (Note to self: pay more attention to ebook downloading rules)
Anyway, adorable. Took my laptop to bed with me a few times so I could read this tale of a free-spirit teacher and a yuppie attorney finding love. Much cuteness, and a nice escape during a busy period. But be prepared for pretty much every romance stereotype under the sun.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Fate and such
You're (Not) the One - Alexandra Potter (Plume, 2010)
I am totally not sure what I thought of this book. Other than I think I need a break from romantic comedy-type fiction. Maybe. It's cute. Lucy moves to NYC from England, is like any good heroine in that she is messy and tends toward lateness, and has a perfectionist sister and a suitably wacky roommate. Also a crazy boss. And she's an arty type - specifically a once-aspiring artist who works in a gallery. Check, check, and check. But more importantly, she once kissed a young lover under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset, which should have bound her to him forever. Except they didn't work out, and Lucy can't help wondering what might have been.... until she runs into him again. Sparks fly like mad, but then it turns out that they've grown into two very different people, and opposites don't attract.
But Lucy & Nate can't get rid of each other, even though they would both very much like to. And even though she's met a new guy, one who is so much more like her. Which raises the question: if someone who is so completely unlike you is not the right match, is it really better to fall for a guy who explicitly reminds me of yourself?! I'm skeptical, but then I'm not the one writing the book. And Lucy has to end up with one of her two suitors, right?
Plus two other looks of what love and soul mates might look like, courtesy of the supporting cast. Charming, but not up to the expectations set by Charlotte Merryweather.
I am totally not sure what I thought of this book. Other than I think I need a break from romantic comedy-type fiction. Maybe. It's cute. Lucy moves to NYC from England, is like any good heroine in that she is messy and tends toward lateness, and has a perfectionist sister and a suitably wacky roommate. Also a crazy boss. And she's an arty type - specifically a once-aspiring artist who works in a gallery. Check, check, and check. But more importantly, she once kissed a young lover under the Bridge of Sighs at sunset, which should have bound her to him forever. Except they didn't work out, and Lucy can't help wondering what might have been.... until she runs into him again. Sparks fly like mad, but then it turns out that they've grown into two very different people, and opposites don't attract.
But Lucy & Nate can't get rid of each other, even though they would both very much like to. And even though she's met a new guy, one who is so much more like her. Which raises the question: if someone who is so completely unlike you is not the right match, is it really better to fall for a guy who explicitly reminds me of yourself?! I'm skeptical, but then I'm not the one writing the book. And Lucy has to end up with one of her two suitors, right?
Plus two other looks of what love and soul mates might look like, courtesy of the supporting cast. Charming, but not up to the expectations set by Charlotte Merryweather.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Stereotypes are weird
Bad Girls Don't - Cathie Linz (Berkley Sensation, 2006)
Bad girls don't fall in love. And they don't go for authority figures. They do like yoga, belly dancing, and being totally loving and friendly. Or something.
This is the follow-up to Good Girls Do, where proper librarian Julia falls for a guy on a motorcycle. Here, Julia's half-sister Skye runs up against a cop. Sparks fly. And the phrase "wicked awesome" drops once or twice a page. (Skye grew up mostly on the West Coast, which explains her Bostonesque slang. Really, the more appropriate phrase would have been "hella cool.")
I'm really not sure why this charming little book didn't do more for me. I'm sure it deserves a nicer write-up than this one.
Bad girls don't fall in love. And they don't go for authority figures. They do like yoga, belly dancing, and being totally loving and friendly. Or something.
This is the follow-up to Good Girls Do, where proper librarian Julia falls for a guy on a motorcycle. Here, Julia's half-sister Skye runs up against a cop. Sparks fly. And the phrase "wicked awesome" drops once or twice a page. (Skye grew up mostly on the West Coast, which explains her Bostonesque slang. Really, the more appropriate phrase would have been "hella cool.")
I'm really not sure why this charming little book didn't do more for me. I'm sure it deserves a nicer write-up than this one.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Spies and otherwise
What Happens In London - Julia Quinn (Avon, 2009)
I didn't really get the title. I guess there's a lot of intrigue afoot - some gossip, spying, a haughty prince who may have a variety of nefarious plans - but it's not as though anything "stays" in London once the action moves somewhere else. Eh, whatever.
Which reminds me - there aren't any London-themed hotels in Vegas, are there? I wonder why not...
Anyway, it was all very charming. I've got nothing else to add, I'm afraid. Oh, and no fake marriages, sadly.
I didn't really get the title. I guess there's a lot of intrigue afoot - some gossip, spying, a haughty prince who may have a variety of nefarious plans - but it's not as though anything "stays" in London once the action moves somewhere else. Eh, whatever.
Which reminds me - there aren't any London-themed hotels in Vegas, are there? I wonder why not...
Anyway, it was all very charming. I've got nothing else to add, I'm afraid. Oh, and no fake marriages, sadly.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Dream lover
Imaginary Men - Anjali Banerjee (Downtown Press, 2005)
Yet another book that mysteriously made its way onto my "to read" list. But it seems right up my alley. Once upon a time I was reading a lot of South Asian-inflected fiction, and chick lit is my specialty. But to be honest, I'm still not quite sure how I felt about this one.
The premise totally works - Lina is a matchmaker (one of those professions I really only hear about in novels) and in the eyes of her Indian family, an old maid now that she's crossed 30. And to avoid a relative's meddling matchmaking, she claims to be engaged. And hijinks ensue. Mainly because she uses the name of the hot (but terribly conservative) man she just met, and because her family gets SO excited and demands to meet him, and because she's still trying to come to terms with the death of her former fiance.
The plot moves quickly, and I plowed through this book during finals week like it was candy. All good. But I found myself wondering what role Lina's fiance played in the book. People seemed blithely inconsiderate of her loss, and I couldn't quite understand why. And then we have Lina's imaginary man, who is either a)aforementioned lost love; b)her fake new lover; c)the new man she's actually falling for; d)some weird amalgamation. The answer is e)all of the above, but I somehow wanted more from him.
Am I too demanding? Is this why I'm still unmarried?
On the other hand, I really appreciated the ending, which offered a richer, more real portrait of how "happily ever after" doesn't just happen.
Yet another book that mysteriously made its way onto my "to read" list. But it seems right up my alley. Once upon a time I was reading a lot of South Asian-inflected fiction, and chick lit is my specialty. But to be honest, I'm still not quite sure how I felt about this one.
The premise totally works - Lina is a matchmaker (one of those professions I really only hear about in novels) and in the eyes of her Indian family, an old maid now that she's crossed 30. And to avoid a relative's meddling matchmaking, she claims to be engaged. And hijinks ensue. Mainly because she uses the name of the hot (but terribly conservative) man she just met, and because her family gets SO excited and demands to meet him, and because she's still trying to come to terms with the death of her former fiance.
The plot moves quickly, and I plowed through this book during finals week like it was candy. All good. But I found myself wondering what role Lina's fiance played in the book. People seemed blithely inconsiderate of her loss, and I couldn't quite understand why. And then we have Lina's imaginary man, who is either a)aforementioned lost love; b)her fake new lover; c)the new man she's actually falling for; d)some weird amalgamation. The answer is e)all of the above, but I somehow wanted more from him.
Am I too demanding? Is this why I'm still unmarried?
On the other hand, I really appreciated the ending, which offered a richer, more real portrait of how "happily ever after" doesn't just happen.
Friday, November 09, 2012
Runaway Bride!
The Great Escape - Susan Elizabeth Phillips (William Morrow, 2012)
Instead of a fake marriage, we have a wedding that aborts just before takeoff. And if this sounds familiar, it may be in part because it's the other half of Phillips' last novel. There, the runaway bride's best friend finds herself stranded with the just-too-perfect groom. Here, we ditch Texas for the Great Lakes, where the bride ends up after a stint on the back of a motorcycle. (This, btw, is not the first time this scenario has played out in a Phillips' novel.)
Did we mention the bride is the daughter of the former president, and thus this non-wedding is a huge scandal?
Lucy didn't get to sow any wild oats during her teen years. So she's going to do that now. With a reluctant biker named Panda, and some hair dye, and fake tattoos, and whatever else it takes. The love story plays out more or less the way you'd expect. But the B and C plots are delightful. Lucy picks up some girlfriends along the way, and an orphaned boy, and there are some nice lessons learned about resilience, vulnerability, and the ways in which communities can provide for one another. Pretty charming.
(Why did I never set up an "absurd but adorable marriage plot" tag for my blog?)
Instead of a fake marriage, we have a wedding that aborts just before takeoff. And if this sounds familiar, it may be in part because it's the other half of Phillips' last novel. There, the runaway bride's best friend finds herself stranded with the just-too-perfect groom. Here, we ditch Texas for the Great Lakes, where the bride ends up after a stint on the back of a motorcycle. (This, btw, is not the first time this scenario has played out in a Phillips' novel.)
Did we mention the bride is the daughter of the former president, and thus this non-wedding is a huge scandal?
Lucy didn't get to sow any wild oats during her teen years. So she's going to do that now. With a reluctant biker named Panda, and some hair dye, and fake tattoos, and whatever else it takes. The love story plays out more or less the way you'd expect. But the B and C plots are delightful. Lucy picks up some girlfriends along the way, and an orphaned boy, and there are some nice lessons learned about resilience, vulnerability, and the ways in which communities can provide for one another. Pretty charming.
(Why did I never set up an "absurd but adorable marriage plot" tag for my blog?)
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
The absurd marriage makes a lot more sense in books set in the 1800s
His at Night - Sherry Thomas (Bantam Books, 2010)
Ravishing the Heiress - Sherry Thomas (Berkley Sensation, 2012)
And returning to historical romance, which is a far more hilarious genre than I had really given it credit for being. A few months back, I read my first novel by Thomas, which launched the trilogy that RTH picks up. And for a variety of reasons involving book requests, I also ended up with His at Night.
And Thomas doesn't disappoint in the earlier novel, with my favorite "marriage under false pretenses" scenario. Elissande sees unexpected company as her chance to get herself and her aunt out of an abusive home, and swindles a poor, hapless duke into getting caught with her in a compromising position. Of course, he is neither poor nor hapless (just pretending to be) and he sees her trap (which, of course, doesn't stop him falling into it) and hates them both for it.
So again! Everyone's pretending to be something they're not, and lust and romance ensue. Plus there's a scandalous plot involving (more!) secret identities and scandals. Yippie. But again, high on the ZOMG SO CUTE scale.
I was less satisfied by the second read. It's a more ambitious plot - "marriage under forced pretenses" so to speak. Millie is an heiress, Fitz an accidental duke who has to marry well to save his family's land and whatnot. But he has a childhood sweetheart that he really really does not want to let go of. So the book bounces back and forth between the present, eight years after their wedding, and the past, concerning the early days and years of their marriage. It's a lovely testament to the possible success of arranged marriage, as what makes their relationship sparkle is the friendship and respect that have grown over time. But at the same time, you miss the wicked banter and push-and-pull of the romances where both parties are simultaneously attracted and repulsed by one another. But that's coming in the third installment of the trilogy, so huzzah for that.
Ravishing the Heiress - Sherry Thomas (Berkley Sensation, 2012)
And returning to historical romance, which is a far more hilarious genre than I had really given it credit for being. A few months back, I read my first novel by Thomas, which launched the trilogy that RTH picks up. And for a variety of reasons involving book requests, I also ended up with His at Night.
And Thomas doesn't disappoint in the earlier novel, with my favorite "marriage under false pretenses" scenario. Elissande sees unexpected company as her chance to get herself and her aunt out of an abusive home, and swindles a poor, hapless duke into getting caught with her in a compromising position. Of course, he is neither poor nor hapless (just pretending to be) and he sees her trap (which, of course, doesn't stop him falling into it) and hates them both for it.
So again! Everyone's pretending to be something they're not, and lust and romance ensue. Plus there's a scandalous plot involving (more!) secret identities and scandals. Yippie. But again, high on the ZOMG SO CUTE scale.
I was less satisfied by the second read. It's a more ambitious plot - "marriage under forced pretenses" so to speak. Millie is an heiress, Fitz an accidental duke who has to marry well to save his family's land and whatnot. But he has a childhood sweetheart that he really really does not want to let go of. So the book bounces back and forth between the present, eight years after their wedding, and the past, concerning the early days and years of their marriage. It's a lovely testament to the possible success of arranged marriage, as what makes their relationship sparkle is the friendship and respect that have grown over time. But at the same time, you miss the wicked banter and push-and-pull of the romances where both parties are simultaneously attracted and repulsed by one another. But that's coming in the third installment of the trilogy, so huzzah for that.
Saturday, October 06, 2012
All's fair in love, war, and politics
Queen Margot - Alexandre Dumas (Hyperion, 1994)
In high school, my friends and I watched the film adaptation of this novel a whole bunch of times. the people in it were all too beautiful. It was ... well, memorable. So while I found the book at some book sale, I bought it. And it languished on my shelf. Until a couple weeks ago.
"Queen Margot"is Marguerite de Valois, daughter of one French king, sister of two more, and wife (pre-annulment) of a fourth, Henri de Navarre. But the novel, thick as it may be, covers only two years in her eventful life. It begins with her marriage to Henri, intended to settle unrest between Catholics and Protestants, and ends when Henri flees back to Navarre, to stay safe until he can one day assume the throne. In between: the St. Bartholomew Massacre, several assassination attempts (most engineered by the queen mother, Catherine de Medicis), and a couple pretty fantastic love affairs.
The most memorable part of the film (well, to 16-year-old Erin at least) was the love between Marguerite and a lesser noble, La Mole. (There is also an unintentional murder that was pretty amazing.) But in the book, this relationship is almost surpassed by a strange and enduring friendship that extends unto death. And also much more about the machinations of Queen Catherine. In the book, it becomes a point of humor. She started to remind me of Wile E. Coyote, devising ever more certain plots to take out Henri de Navarre, and having each go awry.
I had far too much fun reading this, as I'm sure did the 19th-century audience that first encountered it in serial form. First of all: history! I mean, I'm not sure entirely where Dumas' imagination takes over, but still... And then romance and intrigue and beautiful costumes and and and. Does it come as any surprise that I have the DVD waiting for me to watch this evening?
In high school, my friends and I watched the film adaptation of this novel a whole bunch of times. the people in it were all too beautiful. It was ... well, memorable. So while I found the book at some book sale, I bought it. And it languished on my shelf. Until a couple weeks ago.
"Queen Margot"is Marguerite de Valois, daughter of one French king, sister of two more, and wife (pre-annulment) of a fourth, Henri de Navarre. But the novel, thick as it may be, covers only two years in her eventful life. It begins with her marriage to Henri, intended to settle unrest between Catholics and Protestants, and ends when Henri flees back to Navarre, to stay safe until he can one day assume the throne. In between: the St. Bartholomew Massacre, several assassination attempts (most engineered by the queen mother, Catherine de Medicis), and a couple pretty fantastic love affairs.
The most memorable part of the film (well, to 16-year-old Erin at least) was the love between Marguerite and a lesser noble, La Mole. (There is also an unintentional murder that was pretty amazing.) But in the book, this relationship is almost surpassed by a strange and enduring friendship that extends unto death. And also much more about the machinations of Queen Catherine. In the book, it becomes a point of humor. She started to remind me of Wile E. Coyote, devising ever more certain plots to take out Henri de Navarre, and having each go awry.
I had far too much fun reading this, as I'm sure did the 19th-century audience that first encountered it in serial form. First of all: history! I mean, I'm not sure entirely where Dumas' imagination takes over, but still... And then romance and intrigue and beautiful costumes and and and. Does it come as any surprise that I have the DVD waiting for me to watch this evening?
Thursday, September 06, 2012
My boyfriend plays video games, I read romance novels
Crazy For You - Jennifer Crusie (St. Martin's, 1999)
Hot Stuff - Carly Phillips (HQN, 2004)
Phillips is sexier, Crusie is funnier. Both stories (sort of) revolve around a dog. Everyone's kinda adorable. Battlefield 3 is getting old. :P
Want to read more of these, but will probably turn my attention back to some heavier fare for a little while. At the very least, I don't want to fun through everything by these authors. Not right away.
Hot Stuff - Carly Phillips (HQN, 2004)
Phillips is sexier, Crusie is funnier. Both stories (sort of) revolve around a dog. Everyone's kinda adorable. Battlefield 3 is getting old. :P
Want to read more of these, but will probably turn my attention back to some heavier fare for a little while. At the very least, I don't want to fun through everything by these authors. Not right away.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Falling in love under false pretenses, subcategory two
Beguiling the Beauty - Sherry Thomas (Berkley Sensation, 2012)
Second only to "pretending to be married" in my list of amusing romance scenarios that do. not. happen. is "pretending to be someone else." You could make an argument for those both falling under some broader category of "falling in love under false pretenses," but in one you're fooling outside observers and in the other, you're fooling the love interest.
And that's what happens here, when Venetia, 27 and twice widowed, finds herself hurt by public comments made by Lord Somethingorother and decides to make him fall in love with her, and then burst his bubble. (I'm not quite sure how this proves that she's not a Black Widow who uses her beauty to entrap men, but whatevs.) This plot, unbeknownst to her, has the added extra punch that he's been lusting after her from afar for years, since she was a young bride. Aww. So they seduce each other - did I mention she's wearing a veil, so he can't tell it's her? - and manage to fall in love.
Except they're both deceiving each other? How will it ever work out? :)
I'm snarking, which is unfair, because this was really rather charming. And humorous. They were likable characters, and up until the speedy denouement, I was totally down with them. I am pretty sure I made me "ZOMG SO CUTE" face after every chapter. Plus, it's always an added bonus when the heroine is into a "man's" subject like archeology. And Thomas cleverly laid the groundwork for the rest of the trilogy, which will settle the love lives of her younger (twins) sister & brother. In fact, she did such a thorough job that I really thought those were the B and C storylines and was confused that they were left unresolved. Which, of course, means I will have to read them...
Second only to "pretending to be married" in my list of amusing romance scenarios that do. not. happen. is "pretending to be someone else." You could make an argument for those both falling under some broader category of "falling in love under false pretenses," but in one you're fooling outside observers and in the other, you're fooling the love interest.
And that's what happens here, when Venetia, 27 and twice widowed, finds herself hurt by public comments made by Lord Somethingorother and decides to make him fall in love with her, and then burst his bubble. (I'm not quite sure how this proves that she's not a Black Widow who uses her beauty to entrap men, but whatevs.) This plot, unbeknownst to her, has the added extra punch that he's been lusting after her from afar for years, since she was a young bride. Aww. So they seduce each other - did I mention she's wearing a veil, so he can't tell it's her? - and manage to fall in love.
Except they're both deceiving each other? How will it ever work out? :)
I'm snarking, which is unfair, because this was really rather charming. And humorous. They were likable characters, and up until the speedy denouement, I was totally down with them. I am pretty sure I made me "ZOMG SO CUTE" face after every chapter. Plus, it's always an added bonus when the heroine is into a "man's" subject like archeology. And Thomas cleverly laid the groundwork for the rest of the trilogy, which will settle the love lives of her younger (twins) sister & brother. In fact, she did such a thorough job that I really thought those were the B and C storylines and was confused that they were left unresolved. Which, of course, means I will have to read them...
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