What? No Bodice Ripping?

In light of the brain-bleed inducing Judy Mays story (please read the Smart Bitches coverage, but make sure you take your blood pressure medication beforehand!) - I thought it would be nice to highlight an article about a romance author that won't cause an aneurysm.

My Mom sent me this article from my local hometown newspaper.  Cindy Dees is a guest speaker this weekend at a local RWA chapter retreat back home.  Despite reporting that Dees has won the RWAR RITAR award (uh, where did those extra R's come from?), it's a really nice article.  Most of it is ripped from Dees' online biography, but you know what?  Not one mention of "bodice ripping" anywhere.  No insinuations about Dees being some sort of deviant.  And no rippin' on some of the "colorful" titles Harlequin has slapped on her books.  It's really nice.  Or in the immortal words of my mother:

"Wow!!!  This woman is amazing!"

I agree Mom.  Ms. Dees sounds like she kicks some major butt.

Wendy's Taking Her Toys And Going Home

So, for those of you who haven't gotten the memo - it pretty much sucks to be a librarian right now.  Actually, come to think of it, I'm trying to think of a time when it was "good" to be a librarian.  Hmmmm.  The late 1990s maybe?  I mean other than listening to morons tell me that the Internet was going to make the profession obsolete, the late 1990s were pretty frickin' sweet.  Plus, I was skinnier back then.  And younger.  And just all around cuter.  I know, all of this is hard to imagine.  Wendy used to be cuter?  How is that possible?

My Man says I'm too "raw" right now and probably shouldn't do anything rash.  He's probably right.  Don't tell him I said this, but he's right a lot.  Damn his black heart.  But I think I need to do it, because I'm just entirely too scatterbrained at the moment.

The long and the short of all this is that Real Life has reared her ugly head.  My job is....in flux. What does that mean?  Well, good question.  What I do know are words like "reorganization" are being tossed around.   The problem is that nobody really knows anything at the moment.  It's all very much still up in the air.  Word is I'm still going to have a job, but where that job will be and what I'll be doing isn't clear at the moment.

So yeah.  Wendy is a little distracted right now. 

To that end, the blog is taking a hiatus. I just need to take some time and decompress.  To see where the cards end up falling and make the necessary adjustments.

However, it won't be a total dead zone here.  I've promised reviews to people.  Although at the rate I'm reading who the hell knows what's going to get done when.  But, I've made commitments and I'm going to do my best to honor them, because that's how I roll.  Plus, Sybil is going to expect me to read and review some Harlequins....eventually.  Heroes & Heartbreakers, Criminal Element and Readers Gab are going to expect blog posts from me.  I told all these people "yes" - and I'm going to try my best to stick with that.  Which means this blog is going to become a little less active.  I'll pop in.  I'll still do occasional posts.  But right now my usual pace of 3-4 per week probably isn't going to happen.  At least not until things in Real Life settle down a wee bit.

ETA: 4/28/11

Random Romance Sunday: RIP Beverly Barton

The Book:  Yankee Lover by Beverly Barton

The Particulars: Contemporary romance, Silhouette Desire #580, 1990, Out of Print

The Blurb:

TO ARMS

John Mason knew better than to make a wager with a lady. Ladies, he'd learned, didn't play fair. But the chance to win a date with the sultry Southern belle perched daintily in the county fair's dunking booth made the bet worth taking.

Experience had taught Laurel Drew harsh lessons about hard-living macho types like the big blond Yankee with the good throwing arm. Pity that didn't still the drumroll vibrating through her body at his touch.

The verbal sparks that flew between them threatened to start another Civil War. But John had a few battle tactics he hoped might warm the sudden chill in the air -- AND provide some much needed Southern comfort.

Any Reviews?:  There's one lonely lil' two star review over at Amazon.  The average rating over at GoodReads is 3.4.

Anything Else?:  Barton passed away unexpectedly this past week at the age of 64.  An author with over 70 novels under her belt, I would hazard a guess that she's most well known for her romantic suspense work.  But I thought today, in honor of her achievements, it would be fun to profile the book that started it all for her.  Her debut.  This slim lil' contemporary category for the Desire line.  Also, I'll admit it, I think this cover is a hoot.  The hero's hair defies logic.  I mean, Ken dolls have more realistic hair.  And exactly what is the heroine wearing below the waist?  Is that a tutu?  Are they preforming Swan Lake in the shower?  

You know, I think My Man would have enjoyed Black Swan more if there had been shower scenes.  Just sayin'.

In Defense Of Derivative

I should probably preface this blog post by saying that I've been Little Miss Cranky Girl the last couple of days.  I'm at the point where just about everything is irritating the hell out of me.  I'm not kicking puppies or taking candy from babies just yet - but I'm being just unreasonable enough that I probably shouldn't be hanging out on the Internet right now.  Of course, has this stopped me?  Of course not.

This week Jennifer Egan won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, A Visit From The Goon Squad.  This book has been critically lauded since it was published, and honestly I was not only happy that a woman won it, but also that the committee didn't go completely off the reservation like so many of the other literary awards did this year (I've spent most of the fall and winter reading these announcements going "Huh?" and "Who?!?!")  Of course, in true "literary genius" fashion, Egan ultimately did what so many others like her have done before.  Instead of saying, "Thank you, it's a great honor, I worked really hard yada, yada, yada" she took the opportunity to tear down genre fiction (in this case, chick lit) in the wake of her victory.

Now, I'm not going to rehash that here.  I mean, just because Egan has won the Pulitzer doesn't mean she's incapable of being ignorant (Yeah, I just said that....).  The Smart Bitches have a nice rundown with links and various comments for your perusal, so I'll direct you there.  At the end of the day, I expect this kind of statement from writers like Egan.  This kind of shit is like oxygen in that community.  So while it annoys me, it doesn't surprise me. 

What continues to surprise and annoy me though are people in my profession who should know better.  I'm often asked what makes a good collection development librarian, and my stock answer is someone who can leave their personal opinions and various biases behind when they walk through the office door.  Nothing gets my goat more than when I hear a librarian say something like, "Oh, nobody in our community wants to read that."  Or librarians who build their library's collection as a shrine to what they personally like to read.  A big part of being a librarian is biting your tongue.  Every time I have to buy a new Danielle Steel novel a small piece of me dies inside - but you know what?  I still buy it.  I might think she's a gawd-awful writer, and it pisses me off no end that people classify her as a "romance writer" - but just because I think her books suck eggs, doesn't mean that someone else out there isn't allowed to like them.

Just because I don't like it, just because I don't understand it or necessarily "get it," doesn't make it wrong.  Crap is in the eye of the beholder.  What's derivative drivel to one reader, could be the Great American Novel to someone else.  What is mind-numbing garbage to one reader can be a deep and profound reading experience for another.  Also, newsflash: there is good crap and bad crap in every corner of the book market.  No one "type" of book - be it mystery, science fiction, romance, general fiction, history, self-help, true crime etc. holds the market share.  There is plenty of both to go around, believe you me.

Look, at the end of the day, the world at large needs genre fiction.  It is the job of genre fiction, all genres, to reinforce everything that is right and "good" about us.  And by "us," I mean human beings, society and civilization at large.  Genre fiction holds up a mirror.  The hero's journey, good vs. evil, the resiliency of the human spirit, love, acceptance, our collective sense of justice - these are all themes and ideals that genre fiction reminds us of over and over again.  Yes, The Real World isn't fair.  It can be a cold, dark place that chews up innocence and spits it out.  But genre fiction is there to remind us of what we strive for.  Genre fiction is the goal.  Think about it, when you ask a little kid what they want to be when they grow up, none of them ever say:

"I want a life filled with loneliness, toil and misery." 

Genre fiction is not new.  Go back thousands of years and think about legends that were told around communal camp fires.  About stories that bards and minstrels relayed from village to village.  If you're going to slam romance novels for happy endings, you have to tar and feather a bunch of other stuff with the same brush.  Hell, Odysseus eventually got his ass home!

I take a fair amount of crap as a romance reading librarian.  I hear it from colleagues, library users, and garden-variety assholes.  I had someone say to me recently, when they found out I liked romance and mystery novels, that I must like "predictability."  Sadly, since I heard this while representing my employer I couldn't tell the guy to kiss my big white predictable ass.  He got the condensed version of this blog post.  But you know, his statement didn't really bother me that much.  I mean, I expected it from him (trust me, I just did), just like I expect it from someone like Jennifer Egan.  I know me expecting it doesn't make it any less annoying.  It doesn't make them any less wrong.  You don't like it?  Fine.  But don't tear me down for liking it.

And sadly, it's that tearing down I still see from too many in my profession.  You don't like it?  Fine.  Don't read it.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't collect it.  That doesn't give you a free pass to alienate or belittle.  And dear God in heaven, don't try to "educate" the poor huddled masses who you think are sadly misguided in their reading choices that they genuinely enjoy.  Our job is to make it available.  To put it "out there."  It's not our job to beat people up.  It's also not your job to cause the Mutha-Effing Librarian Of The Year's head to explode .  Folks, I don't need any help in that department.  I'm halfway to crazy all on my own.

TBR Challenge 2011: Montana Wife

The Book: Montana Wife by Jillian Hart

The Particulars: Historical western romance, Harlequin Historical, 2004, Out of Print, Available Digitally!

Why Was It In Wendy's TBR?:  Hart is mostly known for her inspirationals these days, but I autobuy her secular work.  I picked this one up at a used bookstore many moons ago after enjoying some of her others.

Review:  Rayna Ludgrin has just buried her husband.  The love of her life, he dropped dead working in the fields, and now she's a widow with two young sons to raise.  Compounding this tragedy, her husband wasn't forthcoming with her about the state of their finances.  A widow sitting on prime land, it doesn't take long for the vultures to start circling.

Coming to her aid is one of her neighbors, Daniel Lindsey.  He genuinely wants to help her out, to repay the kindness her husband showed to him when he first moved to Montana.  Growing up knowing nothing but hardship, Daniel is a loner.  However the more time he spends around Rayna, and marvels at her determination and strength, the more he's sunk.  When more tragedy strikes, a marriage of convenience seems the only logical answer.

Hart excels at writing angst, and she lays it on pretty thick with this story.  That said, it's all (sadly) believable angst.  Everything that befalls Rayna in the first half of this story rings amazingly true.  These were hardships any newly-single woman would have faced, especially living out in the middle-flippin' nowhere, in still largely untamed country.  She marries Daniel because, well, her other choices suck.  But she also knows that Daniel is a good man.  He'll do right by her and her boys.  That said, she passionately loved her first husband.  And the guy hasn't been dead all that long.  To say she's torn about this marriage, even if it is an "arrangement," is putting it mildly.

Daniel is a fantastic hero.  One of those strong, silent types with a deeply wounded and vulnerable core.  He admires Rayna, is attracted to her, and marrying her does give him a chance at owning some prime land.  But he's also doing it for her two young sons.  So that they'll never know the hardship that he had to endure as a child.  He's a admirable man.  A good, solid man.  A man I wanted to run away with before it was all said and done.

All this being said, this story isn't perfect (and oh, how it kills me to say that!).  Namely, there are some inconsistencies.  Daniel starts out a bit wounded Alpha - one who doesn't think much of women.  Yet by the time he marries Rayna, he's gooey Beta, reminiscing about how as a child he wanted some kindly woman to adopt him and be his mother.  So which is it?  On the bright side, at least he doesn't tar and feather Rayna with the All Women Are Needy And Selfish brush.

There are also a couple of secondary characters who aren't consistently employed in this story, and sort of flit in and out when the author conveniently needs a plot device.  Namely, Rayna's youngest boy (in contrast, I adored the older boy) and the villain.  It's the villain that gives me the most pause - especially his actions at the end that come out of left field (and are never explained!) after he's largely "off page" during the entire second half.

For her part, I liked Rayna.  She's a good example of a "strong" heroine who isn't annoyingly feisty or brain-dead.  But man, while I understood that she was still mourning her Dead Hubby, she says some things to Daniel that just about ripped my heart out.  It's these emotional moments that really made this book sing for me.  I bled for both of these characters, even as I wanted to reach through the pages and smack 'em around a bit.

What I'm left with is....a book I wish I could grade higher.  I think I would have chopped back the first half of this story, and given readers more of the second half after the couple has married.  Still, I found this to be a very enjoyable read.  It's emotional, it's angst-y, and Hart does a very nice job delivering the western homesteading vibe, while not glossing over the history.

Final Grade = B

The Month That Was March 2011

Lemon Drop: Auntie Wendy, I do appreciate the new books you gave me for my birthday, but this one has me in a quandary.

Me: Clifford The Big Red Dog?  Really?  Well, tell you what.  Let's talk about what Auntie Wendy read back in March, and afterward we'll tackle your issues with Clifford.

I had a wildly uneven reading month, finishing 11 books.  OK, so the vast majority were short stories.  See, one of Auntie Wendy's friends, Sybil, owns her soul.  Sybil keeps me in Harlequins, and in return, she expects me to do some book reviews for her.  I have a backlog, Sybil needed reviews, so that meant catching up on all those Harlequin Historical Undones I've collected on my Sony Reader.

Title links will take you to full reviews.

Eternal Hunger by Laura Wright, Paranormal romance, Signet, 2010, Grade = DNF 

• Wright did my library's literary event and that meant I broke out of my Dear God Not Another Paranormal Burn Out to read this first book in her new vampire series.  Yeah, it didn't really work for me.  I read about half of it, and skimmed the rest.  If you're curious about it, I suggest checking out the review over at Smexy Books.  I had a number of the same issues with it that Mandi did.  But hey, if you can't get enough of Ye Olde Hunky Vampire Brothers trope?  Might be worth a look for you.

In His Good Hands by Joan Kilby, Contemporary romance, Harlequin SuperRomance, 2011, Grade = C 

• Here's something telling - my favorite part of this story?  The hero's teenage daughter.  A heroine who needs a therapist and a hero who comes off as childish and immature meant a romance that I never connected with.  Actually, scratch that.  I thought this romance was doomed.  But I did like some of the secondary players, and Kilby is a competent writer. Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Pleasantly Plump Heroine, Athlete Hero, Single Father, Sequel-Baitin' Siblings, One Teenage Daughter, One Social-Climbing Ex-Wife

The Last Cheerleader by Meg O'Brien, Suspense, Mira, 2003, Grade = C- 

• My TBR Challenge read.  An annoying secondary character, and some unconvincing behavior on the part of our amateur sleuth sunk this one for me.

Beauty & the Brooding Boss by Barbara Wallace, Contemporary romance, Harlequin Romance, 2011, Grade = C 

• A pleasant story, but the romance never quite gelled for me.  Also, the self-sacrificing heroine caused some heavy eye-rolling on my part. Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Reclusive Author Hero, Down On Her Luck Heroine, You Can't Choose Your Family, Beauty And The Beast

Her Midnight Cowboy by Lauri Robinson, Digital Short Story, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2010, Grade = D 

•  Heroine in pursuit of hunky hero who works on Daddy's ranch.  The "history" in this one was what caused me to put on the brakes.  Yeah, things were more liberal in the American West, but they weren't that liberal.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Virginal Heroine in Pursuit, Cowboy Hero, The World's Most Self-Indulgent Parents

Pleasured by the Viking by Michelle Willingham, Digital Short Story, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2010, Grade = D 

• I normally enjoy Willingham's Undones, so it was with much disappointment that this one....well didn't work at all for me.  In order for the happy-ever-after to work, a secondary character gets thrown under the bus.  It bothered me.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Vikings Ahoy!, Arranged Marriage, Unrequited Crush, One Widow Woman

The Perfect Concubine by Michelle Styles, Digital Short Story, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2011, Grade = B 

•  Desperate heroine wants to find her long lost brother, which means begging a favor from the hero, a man she done wrong.  Naturally, he'll grant her this favor, for a price.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Hero Done Wrong, Heroine In Dire Straights, Betrayed!, Reunited!

Fall From Grace by Wayne Arthurson, Mystery/Suspense, Forge, 2011, Grade = B 

•  Gambling addict hero, trying to pull his life together, is given assignment at newspaper to cover the murder of a Native prostitute.  A procedural-style suspense thread, a nice sense of place, a seriously messed-up hero with oodles of baggage, and a brain-bending finish will give readers plenty to talk about.

The Left-Handed Dollar by Loren Estleman, Mystery/Suspense, Forge, 2010, Grade = B 

•  Detroit PI hired by far-left lawyer to uncover evidence in a car bombing case her mobster client was accused of.  The problem?  The victim of the car bombing is the PI's BFF.  Typical Estleman fare.  Lots of noir-y dialogue, colorful characters, solid mystery.

Taming Her Gypsy Lover by Christine Merrill, Digital Short Story, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2010, Grade = C 

• A prequel to a multi-author series, this sets the wheels in motion quite nicely.  Hunky hero, plenty of sexy sizzle, although I did think the heroine took to the "Gypsy lifestyle" amazingly well.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Outsider Hero, Poor Relation Heroine, Scandal!, One Missing Boy

To Court, Capture & Conquer by Amanda McCabe, Digital Short Story, Harlequin Historical Undone, 2010, Grade = B

• Hero wants revenge against villain and intends to kidnap his bride-to-be.  Instead, he mistakenly kidnaps the girl's chaperone.  Oopsie.  Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Hero Done Wrong, Heroine With A Crush, Revenge!, One Sequel Baitin' BFF. 

Me: OK sweetheart, what is it about Clifford that is troubling you?

Lemon Drop: There's just a lot of unanswered questions Auntie Wendy.  What were Emily Elizabeth's parents thinking?  Did they fully grasp how much it would cost, in this economy I might add, to feed a giant dog?  And dear heavens, I hope they had him neutered!  The book is lacking in a number of important details.  And my Mommy is no help at all!  She knows lots of stuff, but she can't tell me if Clifford is going to populate the world with giant red dogs that will undoubtedly start running amok!

Me: Oh honey, Clifford was "born" in 1963.  Since dogs generally don't live to be 48 years old, and there are no news reports out there about a pack of giant red dogs - I think it's safe to say Clifford was neutered.  And I'm sure Emily Elizabeth's parents were independently wealthy.

Lemon Drop: Whoa, whoa, whoa - wait a minute.....Clifford is dead?!?!?!

Me: Sigh.  I should just start saving up for your therapy bills now.

Random Romance Sunday: Resistance Is Futile

While my folks were out visiting, My Mom declared that she wanted something to read.  So I went rooting around in the Bat Cave Harlequin Print Stash, pulling out some books that I know Mom could wrap up quickly - and if she couldn't?  No big yank if she had to take one of them home with her to finish (and send back to me later).  Well, she read four books in 48 hours.  If only I had inherited my mother's fast reading skills.  Sigh.  Anyway, here they are:

His Wife for One Night by Molly O'Keefe, Harlequin SuperRomance, February 2011

Description:

Jack McKibbon knows the score when he offers to marry his best friend Mia Alatore. He's fixing a bad situation for her—that's all—they aren't making a real life together. She wants to stay on the ranch and he's got his studies and inventions elsewhere. Still, this arrangement is a good deal for both of them.

Until that one night…

A sexy interlude with Mia makes Jack rethink their relationship…and their future. But all his plans grind to a halt when she asks for a divorce. Once upon a time, Jack might have agreed. But now that he knows the chemistry they share, he's not giving up a second chance to be with his wife.

I loved this book.  Mom loved this book.  Mom loved this book so much she e-mailed the author.  

Next up, a string of baby books.  Hey, don't hate the player, hate the game.  Mom met Jacqueline Diamond over a year ago, when I dragged her along to a local RWA chapter meeting where I was asked to speak to their published authors (basically? How I do my job, how books get in the library yada, yada, yada).  Well, Ms. Diamond is super-duper nice, and when she found out I was bringing Mom along, she gifted Mom with one of her older titles, which Mom promptly read and enjoyed.  So yeah, Mom went on another Jackie Diamond reading binge, all of these belonging to her Safe Harbor Medical series.

The Would-Be Mommy by Jacqueline Diamond, Harlequin American, February 2010

Description:

From the moment he arrives at Safe Harbor Medical, Ian Martin is on infant overload. But the story he's covering gets a lot more interesting when the adventure-seeking reporter meets Jennifer Serra, an intriguing PR director who has created a stir by taking home one of the center's unwanted newborns!

Jennifer has always wanted a child of her own. Her dream becomes thrilling reality when she agrees to temporarily-- permanently?--be a mother to a sweet baby girl. Ian could complete the picture--Jennifer sees how easily he bonds with little Rosalie.

But just when she begins to look at Ian as potential father material, the dashing journalist dredges up a scandal from Jennifer's past that could jeopardize her plans for adoption...and for a future with Ian.

His Hired Baby by Jacqueline Diamond, Harlequin American, August 2010

Description:

Surrogate mom Kate Evans, a widow with a five-year-old son, isn't looking forward to her upcoming delivery--not because of the pain, but because when it's over the doctor will place her baby in the arms of the couple who hired her. When Kate gets the startling news that Tony Franco's wife has abandoned him, it only makes her feel more conflicted.

Second thoughts or not, Kate signed a contract, and she won't go back on her word. Instead, she offers to help prepare Tony for single parenthood, never expecting to fall for him in the process. But once their baby is born, she'll lose both of them forever...unless she can convince Tony to give love another chance.

The Holiday Triplets by Jacqueline Diamond, Harlequin American, December 2010

Description: 

Mark Rayburn always admired Samantha Forrest's fierce dedication, even if it often caused heated disagreements between the two doctors. But making a lifetime commitment to three babies without a moment's thought? Unbelievable, even for Sam. None of her professional pediatric experience would prepare her for real-life motherhood—Mark knows Sam is in over her head.

Though he thought he swore off fatherhood years ago, Mark steps in to help Sam, and quickly falls in love with the adorable triplets. The former rivals make a great team, and soon Sam and Mark are giving off enough sparks to keep the whole town lit up through New Year's Eve. But when Sam's impulsive nature puts both their careers on the line, they find themselves fighting again…only this time, they're on the same side.

My Mom is a busy woman, and I think category romance appeals to her on the "they're quick reads" front.  Which is actually one of the reasons I like them too, along with the shorter word count = stronger, intense focus on the romance reason.  This binge prompted questions about Harlequin.  It also prompted her thinking about signing up for the Reader Service so she can have books delivered right to her mailbox.  No word on if that will happen - but my guess is that if she does, she'll sign up for Americans or Supers.  I think she'd like Special Editions too, but alas, we ran out of time before I could dig up some Karen Templeton for her to read. 

Reminder: TBR Challenge For April

For those of you participating in the 2011 TBR Challenge, a reminder that your commentary is "due" on Wednesday, April 20. 

This month's theme is Western.  Contemporary or historical, any flavor of western romance will do.  Remember, the themes are completely and totally optional.  If you don't wanna read a western, you don't have to.  Read something else you've unearthed from the depths of the TBR pile!

It's also not too late to sign-up.  If you are interested in doing so, or just want to learn more about the challenge, please see the information page.

The Goodbye Quilt

Ever read a book, and even though you recognize that it's "good," you're struck by the feeling that you're the totally wrong demographic for it?  That's what happened to me while reading The Goodbye Quilt, the latest women's fiction (in other words, not a romance in sight) offering from Susan Wiggs.  This book wasn't written for me.  Not by a long shot.  It was written as a bit of a love letter to all those Moms out there who get hit hard by Empty Nest Syndrome.

Linda Davis is getting reading to drive her only child, daughter Molly, across the country to attend a prestigious university.  Husband Dan isn't going.  Instead it will be Linda and Molly, on one last road trip.  Molly fretting about the boyfriend she's leaving behind in their tiny Wyoming town and the uncharted waters that await her.  Linda fretting about getting the memory quilt she's making for Molly done in time, and also about what she's going to do with her life now that her only child is leaving the nest.

This slim category-length story is the kind of gift hard cover book you give to your female friends, with children, who are of a certain age.  If you're the type of mother (or you know one) who struggled with letting go; who floundered a bit on the question, "What now?" after the kids leave home - this book is very likely going to speak to you.  Wiggs is a very capable writer, and there were moments of truth that shined through this story that will very likely resonant with the audience she's targeting.

That being said, readers shouldn't go into this tale expecting a big, meaty, angst-filled read.  That's not really what this is.  It's more a sweet story about moving on, letting go, and allowing your children to sink or swim on their own. 

I will say that I struggled for the majority of this book to wrap my mind around Linda.  No, I'm not a mother. So maybe I just don't "get" it - but more than once I wanted to reach through the pages, smack her upside the head and tell her, "Get a life!"  Her entire existence seems so wrapped up in being "Molly's Mom."  Almost like she abandoned being an individual person once she gave birth.  I "get" that this happens to some women, but it's just so.....annoying to read about it.  Luckily for me (and readers), Linda eventually seems to "get" it.  Also, the inclusion of her husband, Dan, helped tremendously.  He's largely off the page, not taking this road trip with mother and daughter, but when Linda talks to him on the phone?  He says all the things that I'm thinking in my head.  This ultimately seems to help Linda move forward.

The Goodbye Quilt won't be a book that will resonant with every female reader out there, but for many mothers and maybe even some daughters?  I think it will.  Again, it's a slim story, so readers shouldn't expect a dissertation of character development and back-story, but Wiggs hits on enough truths that in my mind's eye I see a lot of turned down page corners, and affixing of Post-It Notes to certain passages, for readers to go back to rediscover those moments again and again.  If you're in the target demographic?  I recommend buying an extra box of Kleenex.  You're likely going to need it.

Final Grade = B-

Why I Wasn't At RT

Happy Birthday Lemon Drop!  Here she is at Disneyland devouring a Mickey Mouse waffle with strawberries.  Yum, yum!








My library's Literary Event!  From left to right: Judy Duarte, Debra Mullins and Laura Wright.  I want to thank all of these ladies from taking time out of their lives (and in some cases - RT!) to do our little program.  Although since we sold out  (uh, 500 people) I'm not sure we were all that "little."  What I like about my library's literary event?  It's multi-genre.  So, not just romance.  I think these types of programs can be great for romance authors.  It's a chance to reach a "new" audience.  Of course it helps to have these programs hosted by romance-friendly folk.  Ahem - which is where me moderating this panel would come into play.

And look where I was on Sunday!  At the ballpark!  The Anaheim Angels vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.  Angels ended up winning 3-1.

The other reason I wasn't at RT?  My parents being in town on their annual vacation.  I'd post a picture of them, but my mother would likely disown me and write me out of the will if I did.  But take my word for it - they were here.

eBook Review: Collision Course

I have a strange relationship with science fiction romance.  It's not a sub genre I easily gravitate towards, but when I "force" myself to sit down and read one?  I usually end up enjoying the experience.  I wonder how many readers out there are like me - because I often hear from "publishing types" that scifi romance is almost as hard a sell as historical westerns (::sob::).  This is, I think, the ultimate appeal of digital publishers.  To fill the niches that are being unmet by traditional print.  Zoe Archer's latest for Carina Press, Collision Course, delivers a lot of the elements I've come to enjoy in science fiction romance.  Interesting characters, smoldering tension, and a rip-roaring space opera plot.

Mara Skiren is a black-market smuggler operating in some of the more unsavory corners of the galaxy.  Which is why the elite 8th Wing is practically blackmailing her into going on a mission for them.  One of their super-secret ships has gone missing, the pilot presumably a hostage.  If the ship were to fall into the wrong hands, it could spell disaster for the whole galaxy.  However, while they need Mara's help navigating the world of smugglers and black-market hoodlums, they're not going to send her on the mission alone.  They want her to take Commander Kell Frayne with her.  Naturally, as a lone wolf scavenger, Mara is less than thrilled with this arrangement - especially since one look at Kell sends her hormones into overdrive.  To make things even more complicated?  The lustful feelings are mutual.

Archer packs a lot of action into this category length (around 200 pages) story.  There's derring-do, action sequences, and a daring rescue to keep the plot churning along.  You also have two headstrong Alpha characters who butt heads immediately but aren't so stubborn to bend and give a bit when backed into a corner.  It's been a while since I've read about a couple that are so alike, and yet have the romance still "work."  Partly because their back-stories are so interesting, and heartbreaking, that the reader really begins to "understand" where they are coming from.  Even though they're both strong-willed, and a bit Alpha, I could see these two making their romance work in the long run.

That said, there is a wee bit of Insta-Lurve going on here.  The lust that's vibrating between Mara and Kell is apparent very early on, with a frankness one typically sees in erotic-romance corners.  The sexy-times are certainly sizzling, but it takes more than that to have me buying into a happy-ever-after  Luckily the author helps add to it later on, especially when the back-stories come spilling out.  Also, I liked the way these two worked together as a team, which is on full display during the final climactic chapters.

There's definitely more than enough wiggle room in Collision Course for the author to return to this world in future books.  The missing pilot seems particularly ripe for her own romance, and Archer has given readers enough world-building featuring Good Guys and Bad Guys to build an entire fleet of stories.  If you're a beleaguered science fiction romance fan, or you're just looking for a bit of a palate cleanser, this is a quick, sexy way to get some kicks.

Final Grade = B-

You can buy this book at Carina Press and other fine e-retailers.

Random Romance Sunday: Get In Your Car And Drive

Well here's something to look forward to this summer - romance novel cover models with their clothes on!

Starting on May 24, 2011, and releasing back-to-back-to-back months, veteran author Stephanie Bond is giving readers a new single title series via Harlequin (specifically, Mira Books).  Here's a brief premise of what the series is about (from Bond's newsletter):

"The trilogy centers around three brothers who unite to rebuild their hometown in the Georgia mountains that was destroyed ten years ago by a tornado.  All is going well until their workers threaten mutiny because there are no women!  So the brothers place an ad for single women with a pioneering spirit looking for a fresh start…and then they wait. The books will be released in June, July, and August and the titles are BABY, DRIVE SOUTH, BABY, COME HOME and BABY, DON’T GO"

There's a wee bit more nitty-gritty on her web site.

I'm not a huge single title contemporary girl, and Bond tends to run hit or miss for me, but this series premise sounds interesting, and the covers are delish.  Guys.  Wearing clothes.  And tool belts!  So much pretty to look at, my eyes might pop right out of my head.

Do you think My Man would mind if I blow up these covers and hang them in the Bat Cave home office?

Uh, probably.

I'd hang them up poster-size in my work office, but something tells me I wouldn't get any work done.  Uh, ever again.

Just a hunch anyway.

We Interrupt The Unplugging

While I'm unplugged, I've had a couple of guest posts go live 'round the Interwebs.  First up, there's a very brief, library-centric interview about yours truly over at The Gatekeepers Post.  Read all about what authors are popular in my library system, book recommendations, and what I really think about ebooks (not that it's a secret, but whatever...). 

Also, over at Heroes & Heartbreakers my post on the Harlequin Romance line - No Dissin' The Just-Kissin'.  I wish I could take credit for the title, but that would be the work of someone far cleverer (is that a word?) than I.

Enjoy!

Harlequin Catches Royal Wedding Fever

When news of Prince William proposing to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton broke here in the States, I told myself I was not going to get sucked into royal wedding goo-ga.

Yeah, wanna guess how well that is working out?  And other than the excuse for women to wear a pretty dress, I'm really not a "wedding person" by any stretch of the imagination (I say save the money for a down payment on a house and elope to Vegas.  Why yes, I love romance novels, why do you ask?).

To help feed into the royal wedding frenzy, those clever folks at Harlequin have announced a series of digital short stories called, what else?, Royal Weddings.  If you're a fan of the Harlequin Historical Undone line, these sound like they might be right up your alley.

Lionheart's Bride by Michelle Willingham

Description:

King Richard and Princess Berengaria, 1191
Princess Berengaria's lady-in-waiting, Adriana, takes her duty to the future Queen of England seriously—she will defend her to the death! When their sea voyage to the Holy Land ends up in shipwreck and capture Adriana knows her only hope lies with the mysterious Irishman, Liam MacEgan.

Liam escapes to reach Richard the Lionheart and together they plan a rescue mission. Nothing will stop these warriors from succeeding—their future brides are captive on Cyprus and they'll raise hell to claim them!

Prince Charming in Disguise by Bronwyn Scott

Description:

Prince George and Caroline of Ansbach, 1704
He might be the future King of England, but Prince George seeks a marriage that's more than a mere political alliance. Masquerading as a lowly nobleman, George heads to the court of Ansbach to woo the renowned beauty, Caroline!

Caroline has no knowledge that he's the most sought-after bachelor in Europe. But however much she's charmed by the mysterious gentleman, her duty is to accept a blue-blooded proposal... Still, she cannot deny she's wickedly tempted by his red-hot proposition!

A Princely Dilemma by Elizabeth Rolls

Description:

George, Prince of Wales (future Prince Regent/George IV) and Princess Caroline of Brunswick, 1795
 
George, Prince of Wales, with his mistress in tow, only lays eyes on Princess Caroline of Brunswick three days before their wedding, and his resentment is palpable. Christopher, Duke of Severn, knows all about arranged marriages—his new wife's fortune is the reason plain Linnet is wearing his ring!

Severn and Linnet must persuade the spoilt princeling and his soon-to-be bride that a paper marriage can become something more. But in trying to convince the royal couple, a tantalizing spark ignites between the duke and his convenient duchess...

Princess Charlotte's Choice by Ann Lethbridge

Description:

Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, 1816

As Princess Charlotte prepares to marry Prince Leopold, her most trusted lady, Isabelle Fenwick, must remain chaste and beyond scandal. Yet she has never forgotten darkly handsome Count Nikkolae Grazinsky and the kiss he stole...

She later discovered the Russian had only used her for a wager, so why does he still seek her company? And why does the air tingle with anticipation when they are together? Surely this rake cannot be thinking of following Prince Leopold's example and making a love-match?

The Problem with Josephine by Lucy Ashford

Description:

Napoleon and Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria, 1810

It's springtime in Paris and Emperor Napoleon is about to marry Archduchess Marie-Louise of Austria. All around the city Napoleon's courtiers are preparing for the spectacularly lavish wedding. Everything must be just right...

Ordered to remove all portraits of Josephine, the Emperor's first wife, seamstress Sophie has to track down a talented artist called Jacques. He promises to carry out the commission, but only in return for a kiss for every hour he works...

What the Duchess Wants by Terri Brisbin

Description:

Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine and Henry of Anjou (future Henry II), 1152

 As one of Europe's most powerful women, Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, has a chance most can only dream of—to choose her own husband! One glance at the young, forceful Henry of Anjou and her choice is made.

Able to match her wit for wit, Henry's a true warrior and not afraid to disobey a royal command... But his love of life—and the bedroom—promises Eleanor a brand-new world of excitement!

With Victoria's Blessing by Mary Nichols

Description:

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1840
 
Preparations for the young Queen Victoria's wedding have thrown all of London into a frenzy—but for Lady Emily Sumner, her own marital dilemmas eclipse all the excitement!

Forbidden to marry her beloved Lieutenant Richard Lawrence by her strict, status-conscious mama, Emily's chance at wedded bliss seems out of reach... But as Maid of Honour to the Queen, Emily discovers she has a secret weapon—royal approval! And with Queen Victoria's blessing, surely Emily's happy ending can't be too far behind...?

All titles are now on sale at a variety of e-retailers for under $2 a pop. 

Unplugged, Sort Of

Starting this afternoon the Bat Cave is going into sorta, kinda unplugged mode.  No, I will not be at RT.  Instead I'll be knee-deep in entertaining the Super Librarian Parental Units, and making a brief pit stop at my library's annual Literary Event on Saturday to moderate our always awesome-sauce romance genre panel.

All of which means my cyberspace presence will be next to nil until the middle of next week.  Oh sure, I'll be checking my e-mail and probably skimming blog posts - but actually leaving comments?  Responding to comments on my own blog?  Being anywhere remotely near Twitter?  Yeah, likely not to happen.  Or it'll be extremely hit or miss.

I do have a couple of filler posts scheduled to go live this week, so the blog won't be a total dead zone.  Not that it's ever a hot bed of bustling activity over here - but uh, less bustling than usual at any rate.

For all of you heading to RT - have a fantabulous time!  For the rest of you, stay safe, stay good to each other, and try not to get sucked into any Internet WTF-ery while I'm away.

Random Romance Sunday: Double Your Pleasure

The Book: Should've Been a Cowboy by Vicki Lewis Thompson

The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Blaze, May 24, 2011

The Blurb:  

Party organizer Tyler Connelli is on the fast track to her dream career. She’s so close she can almost taste it. But when she returns to her family and sees her one-night stand, Alex Keller, all done up in his cowboy gear, her self-control is stretched to the breaking point....

They’re worlds apart. She’s a busy career girl, and Alex is a cowboy. But while getting together might not bode well for anything long-term, it more than makes up for it in sheer hot chemistry! Problem is, this is one wrangler she might want to get tied down—and tied up—to...indefinitely!

 The Book: Cowboy Up by Vicki Lewis Thompson

The Particulars: Contemporary Romance, Harlequin Blaze, June 21, 2011

The Blurb:

“Never fall in love with a cowboy.” These words were drilled into Emily Sterling’s head since her parents divorced over twenty years ago. But now Emily has returned to her father’s ranch... only to find herself face-to-face with jaw-droppingly hot rancher Clay Whitaker.

Clay is the resident stud expert at the Last Chance Ranch and isn’t so keen on “spoiled” city slickers...until Emily arrives. Now he’s showing Emily just what a ranch—and a cowboy—has to offer. And it’s an offer Emily can’t refuse. After all, she’s not falling for a cowboy—she’s just getting hot and naked with one. Yeah, right....

Wendy Says:  Uh, yes please?

Oh, you're looking for something more inspired than that?

Uh, pretty please with sugar on top?

Oh, and if you seem to recall me saying somewhere online that I was bored with man-titty covers?  Yeah, that wasn't me.  It was a pod person.  Because yes, while I am bored with some man-titty covers, cowboys are automatically exempt.  Save your breath - they just are.  Because they're cowboys.  Shirtless cowboys wearing tight jeans and cowboy hats and......where was I going with this again?

Oh!  Yeah, the stories.  Yeah, that's the ticket.  The actual stories.  Ahem. 

This is a continuation of Thompson's Sons of Chance series that came out last summer.  I read that trilogy back-to-back-to-back, and reviewed them all over at TGTBTU.  The whole experience pretty much wrapped up as "Just OK" for me - but now here I am, a year later, starring at the glorious cowboy-man-titty that those evil masterminds at Harlequin have doctored up....

Damn them!  Damn their black merciless souls!

Wait - do you hear that?  It's pretty faint, but it sounds like crazed maniacal laughter coming out of Toronto......