Good Book Alert

It's not fair. I can't believe she's retiring! And what kind of idiot am I to pull one of her books out of my TBR so soon after hearing that bit of devastating news?

I just wrapped up Prairie Moon by Maggie Osborne, and man was it good. It starts out fairly conventional - but dang if the ending doesn't pack of whollop. I've read a few reviews since then that suggested the ending was "rushed," and while I can see that argument, it wasn't even a blip on my reading radar screen.

I'm one of those rarified readers who doesn't feel it's necessary to "relate" to the characters in order to enjoy a book. Frankly, more often than not, the characters are going through events that I cannot relate to since I've never been through them myself. However, I do need to understand the characters. I need to understand the choices they make. If they run around acting like morons - well, let's just say the book is sunk.

That's why I love Maggie Osborne's characters. They are never stupid. Oh sure, they make bad choices. But hell, who never makes one bad decision in their lifetime? Osborne succeeds where many authors fail because she makes the reader understand why her characters made those bad choices. I may not necessarily agree with that choice - but I understand it all the same.

Prairie Moon features a time-worn plot. It's 10 years after the American Civil War and Della Ward is still haunted by her memories. Then a stranger, James Cameron, comes riding up to her ramshackle farm house and presents her with her dead husband's last letter to her. Della thinks Cameron was her husband's friend - little does she know he's the man who ended her his life.

Clarence Ward put a face on all the good men that Cameron killed during the war. So yeah, he's feeling guilty as hell. He also realizes that with the death of her husband, Della's future was drastically altered. She was forced to give up her baby girl, work in a saloon, and now spends her days growing pumpkins on her farm. Still feeling he has a debt to pay - he takes Della on a cross-country trip to reunite her with her daughter.

I tend to actively dislike Big Secret plots - and Cameron hangs onto his Big Secret a long time. Yes, I found it annoying - but dang if I couldn't see his point. I also loved the ending! I know many readers will despise a certain twist that Osborne throws in here - but frankly, a shiny, happy, rainbow ending wasn't going to fit. Not after all these characters have been through.

And no, you ain't getting spoilers out of me - it would ruin the effect. I will say though that yes, this is a romance - so yes, hero and heroine do end up together in the end.

That shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

Basketball Widow

Ugh. NCAA Tournament time.

Just shoot me.

Please.

I love my man. I really do. But he has a tendency to get exuberant over certain teams. Syracuse basketball being one of them. So while he's hollerin', cussin' and oozing testerone, I'm hiding out in our computer room/second bedroom listening to James Taylor.

Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean.....

RTB Teasers

Thanks to the software we use over at Romancing The Blog, columnists can "post" their entries early and they won't show up until the specific date we're assigned (my next post is scheduled for April 2). It also allows us to see the titles of other posts in the works. Later this month looks to be good - Lori Devoti's title to her next entry had me laughing out loud and Alyssa's next post should generate a lot of discussion. I can't wait to read both entries - and that's all you're getting out of me. You'll just have to wait.

In other news, I'm seriously cheesed off over here. I placed in order with eHarlequin back on February 14 (what can I say? It was a Valentine's Day sale!) and I have yet to receive my order. OK, so it usually does come by pony express from Buffalo, NY - but geez, c'mon already! I also fired off an e-mail to Customer Service back on Monday and have yet to hear one teeny-tiny peep out of them. They have until Friday - then they get a phone call.

I'll be wrapping up Ashes Of Dreams by Ruth Ryan Langan this week and I'm already flummoxed as to what I'll read next. I was thinking either a Harlequin Historical or a category romance. Now I'm thinking I'm in the mood for English setting (no Hell has not frozen over. I adore English settings, I just can't tolerate a steady diet of them).

This is why I keep reviewing - I need TRR's editor to make my reading decisions for me. When I have a stack of review books, I know what I'm reading next. Sometimes when I'm left to my own devices I'm incapable of making a decision. With hundreds of books at my fingertips it really shouldn't be that hard - should it?

Harry Potter Update

And So The Madness Begins...

Yes, we now have cover art for the next installment in Potter craziness - Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince. Just a little tease for all you Pottermaniacs out there. Are you reading this Dad?

Totally Cool Book News

In totally cool book news, Stephen King will be releasing a new paperback for Dorchester's Hard Case Crime line in October 2005.

Really, it makes perfect sense. King probably wouldn't have his career today without his success in paperbacks, and like many of his generation, he has a devotion to the pulp genre.

Personally, I love pulp mysteries. I enjoy the dark atmosphere, the tough guy characters, the femme fatales and the wicked cool cover art. While I have never read King (despite my older sister hounding me for years to read The Stand), I do plan on picking this one up. My only foray so far into the Hard Case Crime line is the now Edgar nominated Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas. While I saw the resolution coming a mile off, I still enjoyed the story greatly.

Dorchester/Leisure has been helping to keep the western romance afloat - is it possible they can revive the tough guy mystery genre? I sure hope so....

Random Tidbits

Some random tidbits for today's blog posting:

First, my second column is up at Romancing the Blog. Stop by, leave a comment!

Also, I was remiss in not announcing the world that February 28 was the 2nd anniversary for my blog. I'm not sure if that's pathetic (shut-up already Wendy!) or an accomplishment of some sort. Jury is still out.

Just got an e-mail from my former boss back in Michigan. He told me he had a new contact with a library employment service and that I should forward my resume to him. I like California, but I'm not sure I'll end up staying here for the rest of my life. I do miss home. It's probably a good thing I didn't get this e-mail last week because I likely would have sent my resume with this note attached:

"Get me the Hell out of here now!"

Ah, to maybe work for a library that had money.

I can hear you all thinking, "Oh c'mon Wendy. It's can't be that bad."

Um, yeah it is. Here are the things my library system is currently not purchasing with central funds:

1. Pretty much any form of media. Audio books (on tape or CD), videos, DVDs.
2. Paperbacks. Period. I see a new title about once every 3 months (usually a Nora Roberts title, sometimes something more obscure)
3. Smaller branches (i.e. Me) are getting minimal number of reference books. I did get a 2005 WorldBook encyclopedia though - so maybe I shouldn't bitch.

So what does this mean? Well, if I want any of these items I need to beg my Friends Of The Library (wonderful folks - and I do mean that!) for funds or get it through donations.

It's only March 2 and I personally have already donated $457.97 in books. 9 hard covers and 35 paperbacks. I used to check out audio books from the library, but now I'm thinking if I ever want to see any new titles at my branch that I need to start buying those myself and donating them after I'm finished. The only new audio titles I get these days are ones my adult services librarian has been donating.

Why this sucks? Because ultimately the library patrons are subject to the whims of what the staff reads. I'm donating a bunch of romance and a little bit of mystery. Those hard covers I donated were mainly history/biography titles left over from my hoity-toity college days.

My adult services librarian likes funny and light mysteries. We're talking light. She pretty much steers clear of anything that has a smidgen of blood between the pages.

I did just place a book order today with Friends money and intentionally focused on areas I know our patrons will enjoy.

1. Women's fiction (you know, books where someone dies of cancer at the end)
   
2. True Crime
3. Fantasy
4. Some newer thriller type books that should appeal to men
5. Some miscellanous non-fiction titles (biography, Weight Watchers etc.)

All areas of the library that need some help, and that I'm not getting donations in. So the next time you think that your library system is behind the times, out of touch and has a piss-poor selection just remember - it could be worse. I long for the days when my only concern was maybe I only ordered 20 new audio book titles in a given month instead of 30.

And that concludes today's whine.

Noooooooo!

Well I don't know about you, but my day is shot all to hell. Thanks for nothing LLB.

OK, so it's not her fault. But dangnabit - I need to blame someone, so why not shoot the messenger?

Revealed in the latest issue of At The Back Fence? Maggie Osborne is retiring!!!!

Maybe I should just leave work now and find the nearest bridge.

Connie Brockway leaving behind historicals is also big news, and while I think Brockway is an extremely talented historical writer - I find the Osborne news more upsetting.

Let's be frank here. Brockway's main poison of choice were English-set historicals. The current derth of Regency historicals does not seem to be dying down, and while Brockway will surely be missed in this arena, there will be several authors vying for her abandoned throne.

Who is going to be vying for Maggie Osborne's crown? At this point, who the heck knows. Kensington/Zebra seems to be the only house left publishing westerns at all (outside of Harlequin Historicals, god bless their hearts!). And while some readers tend to turn their nose up at Zebra books - their new $3.99 debut author program and better cover art may help matters some. I'm also encouraged that they have several new authors in their camp that are writing westerns and/or American historicals (Kate Rothwell, Teresa Bodwell and Laura Drewry to name a few).

But I'm still depressed. Frankly, I haven't been this depressed since Pamela Morsi decamped to contemporary women's fiction. I know Osborne deserves her retirement, and I hope she enjoys it. I met her briefly at a conference in 2002 and she was a really nice lady. A class act.

Still, I plan on pouting for a while.

Update: I thought I was long overdue for a different template, so viola! Goodbye orange, hello green! I'm also going to try Blogger's commenting system. If I end up hating it, I may end up going back to Haloscan.

Coda to this entry: There is of course another house publishing western romance - Dorchester/Leisure. Talk about a major brain fart! Especially since I'm currently reading the latest Leigh Greenwood novel - an author who has been with Leisure for quite some time. Duh Wendy.