Go West Young Woman!

Well it's been a few months, so that means it must be time for yet another endless debate in Romance Novel Land about historical accuracy. The latest kerfuffle started over at one of the AAR message boards and soon spilled it's way over into Blog Land. Dear Author has a post up with links and stuff, so that's a good jumping off point for those of you with train wreck fetishes.

Since I generally avoid message boards (they just ain't my bag baby), I don't know if the author in question behaved like a jackass or not. And frankly, I don't really care. My knee jerk reaction to this whole thing is to side with the author, although she really, really should have just stayed far, far away and not waded into the discussion at all. Neither here nor there. That said, I firmly believe some readers really need to get a life. These are the readers who get their panties in a bunch about language, champagne flutes and travel distances - but don't seem to be bothered by the fact the hero smells good, plus is lice and flea free, back in the days when people bathed once a month and the streets were open sewers. And let us take a moment to ruminate on dental care prior to the 20th century. Ewwwww

But I digress.

Historical accuracy in historical romance (and novels in general) is the easy thing to harp on, and I think that's why some readers are obsessed with it. They do it, because they aren't willing to voice why they're really dissatisfied. Working my way through Lonesome Dove (page 425 y'all!) it hit me.

I don't think it's historical accuracy readers necessarily miss. It's the big, epic, saga-like qualities that a lot of the early historical romances had. These books were rich, meaty and really transported you. They swept you off your feet. Readers got lost in these books. Nowadays I suspect authors are providing too much GPS. Readers aren't getting lost. They're getting detailed road maps.

I don't want to talk out of my ass here, having never read either author, but I have a hard time believing that Kathleen Woodiwiss or Loretta Chase got every single minor minuscule detail right in their stories. And everybody points to Laura Kinsale's way with language, but trying to read her books is about as much fun for me as ramming an ice pick up my nose. But using these authors as examples, is it really the "historical accuracy" that make readers love their books?

Hell to the no.

It's the fact that their work has the ability to transport readers. To make readers "lose themselves." Say it with me: big, epic, meaty and saga-like.

Honestly I think that's what readers really miss, at least on a basic level. They want to "lose time" and "lose themselves." Which is why everybody needs to stop whining and pick up a western. Frankly Americans (OK, I'll give a slight nod to Canada and Australia too) cornered the market on big, epic, meaty and saga-like. It's OK to leave England. Seriously, it really is.

If The Smart Bitches Can Do It

So can I. Never let it be said that I'm above being a copy cat.

Long time commenter here at the Super Librarian Bat Cave, Alie, buried this query in the comments from an earlier post. Always willing to help a sister in arms, I'm giving her long lost book query it's own post in the hopes that one of you smart cookies out in Romance Blog Land can help her.

I was thinking earlier about a book I read a few years ago and for the life of me cannot remember the title or author. It was a romance of course and the plot was about a man just released from prison or going to prison (I forget which) for murder and he ends up living with a woman in her house/apartment or he takes her hostage? I remember it was really good and I'd like to re-read it lol. Thanks for any suggestions!

PS: It wasn't Perfect by Judith McNaught.

Not a lot to go on, but does anyone have some suggestions?

This Is Why Librarians Aren't Obsolete

I love it when people look me in the eye and tell me that I soon won't have a job because "everything is on the Internet." Yeah, a bunch of crap that isn't true is on the Internet.

I hate to get riled up about this, because honestly everybody's heart is in the right place - but before you forward an e-mail, do a little homework people. The latest to make the rounds (and I've seen it on all my e-mail loops and some blogs) is to send holiday cards addressed to "A Recovering American Soldier" to the Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Don't do this! From the Walter Reed web site:

Walter Reed Army Medical Center officials want to remind those individuals who want to show their appreciation through mail to include packages, letters, and holiday cards addressed to 'Any Wounded Soldier' or 'A Recovering American Soldier' that Walter Reed cannot accept these packages in support of the decision by then Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Transportation Policy in 2001. This decision was made to ensure the safety and well being of patients and staff at medical centers throughout the Department of Defense.

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting "Any Service Member" or "A Recovering American Soldier" letters or packages. Mail to "Any Service Member" that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered.

Instead of sending an “Any Wounded Soldier” letter or package to Walter Reed, please consider making a donation to one of the more than 300 nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping our troops and their families listed on the "America Supports You" website, www.americasupportsyou.mil

Other organizations that offer means of showing your support for our troops or assist wounded service members and their families include:

http://www.usocares.org/
http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/tooursoldiers/
http://www.redcross.org

For individuals without computer access, your local military installation, the local National Guard or military reserve unit in your area may offer the best alternative to show your support to our returning troops and their families. Walter Reed Army Medical Center will continue to receive process and deliver all mail that is addressed to a specific individual.

As Walter Reed continues to enhance the medical care and processes for our returning service members, it must also must keep our patients and staff members safe while following Department of Defense policy. The outpouring of encouragement from the general public, corporate America and civic groups throughout the past year has been incredible. Our Warriors in Transition are amazed at the thanks and support they receive from their countrymen.

So the next time you get an e-mail of this nature, no matter how thoughtful and genuine it might seem, it's always smart to check it out. If anything, everybody should have the fabulous web site Snopes bookmarked just for this sort of thing.

Dorothy Was No Fool

I'm home! Home, I tells ya! Home! If I wasn't Dead Woman Walking I'd probably be dancing a happy gig like this fella. The Boyfriend is still back in New York with The Fam, as he has a business rendezvous early next week on that side of the world. I have one day to recuperate, then it's back to the librarian gig on Monday. I have stuff I have to do tomorrow, but honestly I hope to be in a coma-like state for most of the day.

On the Lonesome Dove front (aka "The Brick") I'm officially on page 377. I was all proud of myself until The Boyfriend pointed out I'm not even at the halfway point. Around here we call him Mr. Killjoy. However, I was quick to point out that I'm only 100 pages away from the halfway point. Go Team Wendy! And my sister was right, this is a damn good book. Slow to get moving, but the characters totally rock my world. I hope to read more tomorrow in between my mission of catching up on my DVD-watching. Such is the exciting life of a temporarily single gal.

Talk Now, Pictures Later

Today was a good day with our friend, The Tater. First, we went on a short hike through part of the Appalachian Trail. It was a beautiful hike, even though it was wet and chilly out. The Boyfriend snapped some pics, but the uploading will have to wait until I'm back in California (I left the USB cable at home!).

Afterwards it was lunch at a local deli where I got myself a black and white cookie. Oh sweet Jesus in heaven, it was beyond incredible. For those of you who live outside of the northeast United States, a black and white cookie is more "cake-like" in texture and painted half with white frosting and half with chocolate. If I was crazy enough to go into business for myself, I'd set up a bakery in southern California and sell these things all day. Part of me thinks it would take off and I'd be an overnight millionaire. Another part of me just thinks all the women would come in and ask me if I had low-fat, low-carb, vegan cookies. Seriously, sometimes California really sucks.

Tomorrow it's back to The Boyfriend's parents and prepping for Thanksgiving. I plan to nurse the sinus cold I now have (le sigh) and pick up Lonesome Dove again. Of course, I haven't read anymore than the first 100 pages. What can I say, Tater and The Boyfriend got me liquored up last night and I was completely good for nothing.

Baby It's Cold Outside

OK, can I just say it's bloody cold outside?! Living in California has really made me soft. According to The Weather Channel (and would they lie to me?) it's a balmy 36 degrees here in Central New York. Let me tell you how happy I am that I kept most of my cold weather clothes. Sure they sit in my closet for 10 months out of the year, but there they are, at the ready for our holiday travel.

I'm about 100 pages into Lonesome Dove (cue my Older Sister: "Only 100?!") and I'm liking it. Well sort of. The character development has been great, I'm just waiting for something to happen. Happily though, a character has just shown up that I think will soon spark some plot showing up. And I'm totally digging the prostitute. I'll probably read some more tonight after dinner while The Boyfriend is torturing himself watching the Buffalo Bills get killed by the New England Patriots.

Tomorrow it's off to see our friend from college, The Tater. So far so good on the wireless connection. Yippee!

Note to shelf: Next time pack an extra mouse because using the stupid little mouse pad on a lap top is really frickin' annoying.

The Book That Ate New York

First things first, the Harlequin Reading Challenge is officially over. Industrious little wiener that I am, I reviewed every book. So be sure to hit the link if you have the desire to catch-up or relive the glory. Gotta say, it was kind of fun and it did keep me focused. I might have to do more of these reading challenges once the new year hits.

Also, this may or may not be the last blog post you see from me for a while. Tomorrow we're boarding a plane for upstate New York to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with The Boyfriend's family. We're also going to spend a few days hanging out with one of his former college roommates, The Tater. I foresee beer and pizza in my future.

My mission while I'm gone is to read Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. Otherwise known as The Book My Older Sister Has Been Nagging Me To Read For Years. She's finally worn me down, which is the only reason I can come up with for reading a 945 page novel. That's right, 945 pages. Needless to say my being "gentle" on book spines anal retentiveness is indefinitely on hold. I plan on beating the crap out of this book's spine. I won't be able to read it otherwise. 945 pages. Geez. Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes me to finish it?

We will have The Boyfriend's laptop, with it's wireless connection, with us for this trip, but we'll see how reception is. We're literally going to be out in the middle of nowhere. Assuming all systems are go, I hope to keep up with my blog rounds and maybe make a few posts of my own. If not, well you'll hear from me on the 24th. But lordy I hope the wireless will be in good working order because no Internet would probably mean the DTs.

Country Roads

My Mission: Where The Road Ends by Tara Taylor Quinn

Harlequin Connection: Published under the Mira imprint

Publication Date: 2003

How Long It's Been In My TBR: Since 2003. I was hot to trot to get this book because a huge chunk of the story takes place in Southwest Michigan, otherwise known as Where The Super Librarian Is From.

Plot: Amelia Wainscoat is the powerful business woman behind Wainscoat Construction in Chicago. After her father died, she took over the family business, leaving her young son, Charles, to be raised by his father and a doting nanny. Then her husband dies in a boating accident, and the nanny becomes strangely possessive. Shortly after Amelia fires her, Charles is abducted from an amusement part. Convinced that the jilted nanny took her son, Amelia hires private investigator, Brad Dorchester. When a lead turns up in Michigan, Amelia adopts the alias Amy Wayne and hits the road.

My Verdict: I really wish the author and Mira hadn't tried to make this a romance, because it really doesn't work as one. As a suspense novel it's not bad. Amelia/Amy was a hands-off mother until Charles kidnapping changes everything. This woman becomes frantic, desperate, and a better mother with each passing chapter. I think some readers will have trouble with her character at first, but she really goes through a metamorphosis as the tension continues to build.

The romance is extremely tacked on. I mean, how does one even think about love, sex, and naughty bits when your child is missing? Brad is largely off-screen for the majority of the book, communicating with Amelia/Amy through phone calls. There's also an aborted relationship Amelia/Amy has with a single father while passing through one of the numerous small towns she winds up in. It just doesn't work. I'm happy to report though that the author does keep the ending, as far as the romance is concerned, a little vague. No wedding bells or pregnant heroine, just a promise of a fresh start. That did work for me.

The writing here is pretty good and Quinn drips the pages with desperation. However, there's some repetition (especially in the early chapters) and with all the aliases flying around I think the editor and author could have buttoned them up better. The name "Amy" pops up in the prologue but Amelia isn't officially going by that name until chapter one. There's also a loose thread towards the end involving a threat Amy receives at her house in Chicago that isn't tied up at all. That was kind of annoying, as was the fact that I had the suspense angle figured out long before Amelia/Amy did.

The setting made me a little homesick. Neither here nor there, but I used to buy the adult fiction books for the library in one of the little towns Amelia/Amy finds herself in. I also was slightly bemused to read this description of Paw Paw by one of the characters, "Not much there except a few rich people who want to live out in the country and commute to Kalamazoo. And some white trash." Ha! Not the most flattering picture even if it is true (and before any Paw Paw-ians get het up, everyone's got their fair share of white trash regardless of where they live). That said, it's unforgivable that she didn't mention the winery.

Final Grade = C+

Forgotten History

Rosie and I met for lunch yesterday, and while I was stuffing my face with cheesecake (for the record, it was caramel pecan turtle and yes, it was better than most of the sex I had when I was still single), we had a great conversation about Nora Roberts' category backlist.

Recent readers of this blog will recall that my brief foray into Nora's considerably older category titles didn't go all that well. I largely chalked this up to the fact that the books were 25 years old, hadn't stood the test of time, and Nora is a better writer now than she was 20-odd years ago (only natural).

Then Rosie brought up an interesting point. I've only been reading romance seriously since 1999. There was a brief flirtation in high school, but it lasted about as long as my first crush. Rosie has been reading the genre longer, and fondly recalled reading Nora's category titles right around the time many of them were first published. The appeal for her was that Nora was the first (or one of the very first) category writers to give the heroine's interesting careers/lives outside of the romance. It wasn't all secretaries, nurses or elementary school teachers (not that these aren't "interesting" careers - but they are rather traditional). Nora wrote about Olympic gymnasts, heroine's who work in publishing, chefs, actresses, reporters, photojournalists, and hotel managers (just to name a few). None of these career paths are particularly revolutionary today, but back in the day? I imagine category romance readers were overjoyed to read a story that didn't fit the boss/secretary or nurse/doctor mold.

I can appreciate the trails that authors like Nora blazed "back in the day" but it's on a different level than the long-time romance reader. Long-time readers remember the revelation. They remember the sheer joy they experienced when they read that meaty, epic historical romance or about the take-charge heroine who wanted it all. I look back and see the evolution. I appreciate that evolution. But it's not the same for me as it is for those readers who experienced it first-hand.

When I read Dreaming Of You by Lisa Kleypas this summer I appreciated the hero, Derek Craven. A non-titled, gutter rat hero is still pretty revolutionary even today and I can imagine it just rocked everybody's world back in 1994. That said, I did find the rest of the story a bit conventional. Had I read it in 1994 I'm sure I'd be a gushing fangirl a la KristieJ. Kristie has unabashedly loved this book for many years. I bet if we asked her she could recall how she felt when she first read this book and what she felt over the course of her many rereadings. It was different. It was refreshing. It rocked her socks. Me reading it over 10 years later? I could understand why it's such a beloved book to many readers, and think it goes on the Romance Novel Evolution Time Line, but I didn't love it to bits. It was "pleasant." Why? Because over ten years later, elements that Kleypas put into that story have made their slow steady trek around Romance Novel Land. Case in point? How many Evil Other Woman villains have we been subjected to since 1994? Too many to count! This is hardly the author's fault, but reading the book for the first time, many years after the fact, it's easier to be jaded.

With genre fiction, a lot depends on the space the reader is in at the moment of the first reading. There are books I loved as a teen that probably wouldn't work for me if I was reading them for the first time at age 32. And this is largely where I think a lot of genre fiction falls. Certainly a lot of "contemporary" genre fiction falls in this category. What was contemporary in 1985, is going to be vastly different from contemporary 2007. Which is why I believe so many readers point to historical romances as their all-time favorites. Certainly trends come and go, plot devices get beat into the ground, but historical implies "time capsule." 1812 was just as "historical" in 1985 as it is today. That never changes.

Such A Comedian

The Boyfriend: So what are you and Rosie doing today?

(Sidenote: Yes, Rosie and I are hanging out this afternoon)

Me: Oh the usual, lunch and a trip to Borders.

The Boyfriend: ::strained laughter::

Me: You should be proud of me, I haven't been to a bookstore in ages.

The Boyfriend: Wendy, we live in a bookstore.

What, over 900 books is too many?

Training Wheels

My Mission: A Man For The Night by Miranda Lee

Harlequin Connection: #64 in the Harlequin Blaze line.

Publication Date: November 2002

How Long It's Been In My TBR: A long time. So long I can't remember where or when I actually purchased it. It looks new, but that doesn't mean anything.

Plot: Josie Williams has just found out her new boyfriend likes guys just as much as she does. This is a deal breaker, so she has no choice but to dump the guy on the eve of her high school reunion. This is a real pickle for Josie, since she so wanted to show up at the reunion with a gorgeous hunk on her arm and show up her nemesis, Amber, who is now married to a gazillionaire. No sweat! Josie's friend and business partner tells her about an exclusive escort service. She has just the hunk in mind, a gorgeous struggling actor. The actor in question is Callum McCloud's baby brother. His brother has agreed to Josie's job, only to get the opportunity to attend a party hosted by some Hollywood big wigs. Could Callum please step in and bail him out? Certainly! What are brothers for?

Of course one thing leads to another, with Callum and Josie agreeing to a "fling" until Callum has to leave for a business trip. Can they keep it strictly an affair without falling in love?

My Verdict: I would recommend this story to anybody who thinks the Blaze line is "all sex with no plot." This story actually reads like a Harlequin Temptation with a longer word count.

I'm a sucker for the high school reunion storyline, mainly because I think it's an accessible and believable scenario. That said, I did find Josie to run hot and cold for the entire story. One moment I thought she was a prude, the next I thought "You go girl!" Then I allowed myself to remember what it was like to be single and dating ::shudder:: and the "hot and cold" behavior started working better for me. Callum is one of those no-commitment types and I liked that he was up front with Josie and that his Big Secret (taking his baby brother's place) is out in the open by the time the second half rolls around.

What doesn't work so well? We get a Big Commitment in the final chapter which frankly didn't work for me. The story takes place in one week and I'm sorry - a Mr. No Committment Leopard doesn't change his spots that quickly. I don't care how fantastic the sex is.

Final Grade = B-. Besides the rush to commitment, I also thought this story was a bit slow to get moving. We don't actually get to the high school reunion until Chapter 7. Less on the beginning and more on the middle and end would have been good.

Classic Nora: Episode II

My Mission: Her Mother's Keeper by Nora Roberts, part of the 2-in-1 reprint With Open Arms.

Harlequin Connection: Published under the Silhouette Romance banner, it was Nora's 8th published title.

Publication Date: Originally 1983, my reprint edition was published in 2004.

How Long It's Been In My TBR: A couple of years? I do remember that it was an impulse buy.

Plot: Gwen Lacrosse is 23 and making her way in New York City when she starts getting disturbing letters from her mother. Mom's letters are filled with chatter about bestselling novelist and notorious playboy Luke Powers, who is now renting a room in her mother's spacious New Orleans home. Disturbed that her 47-year-old mother is having an affair with a man 12-years her junior, Gwen rushes home with plans to send him packing.

My Verdict: Oh dear Lord in heaven, my eyes were bleeding before the end of the second chapter. First off, Gwen's freaked by the 12-year age difference between mummy and Luke. Never mind that Luke is 35 and Gwen is 23. That's right. 12-year age difference. I hate hypocrites.

But that's not the worst of it.

Oh no.

Because Gwen then proceeds to make out with Luke before we even get to the end of chapter two. Never mind that she still thinks her mother (yes, her mother!) is having an affair with this guy. She's going to merrily let him shove his tongue down her throat. I mean, what's the quickest way to break up a supposed relationship? All Gwen would have to say is, "Hey Mom? You know that hot guy you're having an affair with. Well he's been groping my goodies and I have first hand knowledge he can do fantastic things with his tongue." But does Gwen do this? Of course not! Why would she want to talk to your mother? And Luke? He knows that Gwen thinks he's boinking mama and he lets her believe it to "teach her a lesson." I can sort of see his point on that because Gwen is so uppity it's amazing she's not crapping diamonds.

But wait, there's more.

Amazing I know, but honestly, the best is yet to come.

This Big Misunderstanding goes on for the entire story! That's right. Gwen doesn't find out until the last chapter what a stupid-ass moron she is. That instead of having the sense that God gave a sack of blonde hair she should have, oh I don't know, talked to her damn mother about the supposedly hot-ass affair she was having! The whole set-up gave me a major case of the skeeves.

On the bright side, from a technical stand-point you can really see the growth in Nora's writing.

Final Grade = DNF. I only read the first 60 pages, skipped the middle and read the last chapter. I just couldn't handle it. No more memory lane for me, I'm sticking with Nora's single titles.

On The Road

I'm over at Romancing The Blog today. Stop by and read my theory on escapism. And do you like my monkey? I like my monkey.

Classic Nora: Part I

My Mission: Song Of The West by Nora Roberts, part of the 2-in-1 reprint With Open Arms (confused yet?)

Harlequin Connection: Originally published under the Silhouette Romance banner, it is Nora's third published book. She has since gone on to publish something like a gajillion. I don't think she sleeps.

Publication Date: First appeared in 1982, my reprint edition has a 2004 publication date.

How Long It's Been In My TBR: A couple of years? I do remember that it was an impulse buy.

Plot: Former Olympic gymnast, Samantha Evans, has left Philadelphia for Wyoming to care for her ailing twin sister. Sabrina is having a rough pregnancy and the doctor has ordered her off her feet. Sam thinks nothing of quitting her job, packing up her life, and temporarily moving to help her sister out. She quickly falls under the spell of Jake Tanner, a neighboring rancher and ladies' man whose determined to charm her out of her panties and good sense.

My Verdict: The problem with genre fiction (and I'm not just talking romance) is that most of it has a short shelf life. Time is not always kind. Cliches get tired and worn out, writers get better, references get dated, etc. etc. etc. Such is the case with Song Of The West. It reads like a 25 year old category romance. The hero has all the subtlety of a sledgehammer and is the type who likes to steamroll over the heroine. The heroine is likable enough, except she's determined to assume the worst about the hero - not that I entirely blame her since he basically comes out and says, "I will have you, so you might as well stop running chickie" (OK so I'm paraphrasing a bit). There's The Other Woman who is tall, chic, cool and makes cracks about the heroine being athletic (a definite sign of datedness, as "athletic" is largely seen as attractive nowadays). And to top it off we have a Big Misunderstanding in the final chapter.

As far as the writing goes, it's very apparent that this is one of Nora's earliest works. It's readable, but the characterization is kinda thin, there's some purple prose (it's not hideous, but it's there) and the conflict is weak. So weak there isn't any for the longest time. It's not until about the halfway point that we get The Other Woman, and even then there's a little smoke, but no real fire.

Final Grade = C-. I'll be honest, there's a grading curve here. It's a 25 year old book written very early on in a writer's career. Nora is a good writer, and like all good writers she's learned a few tricks over the years. This wasn't god-awful, but I wouldn't recommend it to casual readers and certainly not to those who have never read her before. Strictly for the die-hard fans who want to follow her evolution.

Coming Soon: Part II of this 2-in-1 reprint edition, Her Mother's Keeper.

Tis The Season

My Mission: Stay For Christmas by Judith Stacy, Victoria Bylin and Elizabeth Lane

Harlequin Connection: I don't know what number it is, but it's part of the Harlequin Historical line.

Publication Date: October 2006.

How Long It's Been In My TBR: A little under a year. I can't believe it, what with me being a ho for Christmas books, but I didn't buy this in October. I waited a few months and picked it up through eHarlequin.

Plot: "A Place To Stay" by Judith Stacy features Maggie Hudson, a young woman desperate to make the church's Christmas program a smashing success. Having fallen out of favor with many town residents, she's sure if the program is the "best ever" she'll be welcomed back into the fold, scandal or no scandal. The problem is that she needs Emmett Frazier to make her plan work and the infuriatingly handsome sheriff, Jack Crawford, has thrown the man in jail! Now all she needs to do is figure out a way the sweet talk the sheriff into letting Emmett out of jail a few days early.

"A Son Is Given" by Victoria Bylin is a marriage in trouble story. Katherine Merritt is married to the town preacher, who also happens to be an alcoholic. She was seven months pregnant with their second child when a drunken William came home and there was an accident. Their baby was born prematurely and died. Kath is grieving for her baby, and can no longer stand to look at her husband. She's determined to take their young daughter and move home to Philadelphia. The episode scared William sober, and more than anything he doesn't want his wife to leave him. But how can she possibly learn to trust him again?

"Angels in the Snow" by Elizabeth Lane features a former prostitute as the heroine. Della Brown is trying to make her way to Oregon and to the only family she has left, her sister. When the party she's traveling with finds out she's a whore, she doesn't exactly get a warm reception, and circumstances cause her to run away. She's trying to make it to a cabin she saw in the woods, only she gets lost in the snow. Hunter McCall rescues her and takes her back to his place where he and is young son nurse her back to health. Della is shocked when Joey asks her "What's Christmas?" and in return for their kindness she decides to teach the boy all about the holiday.

My Verdict: An enjoyable anthology. Stacy is an author who falls under my "hit or miss" category and this story was mostly a hit. I liked how the author kept the scandal surrounding her heroine a bit of a mystery for the first few chapters. It helped build momentum and it peaks the reader's curiosity. That said, my main quibbles involved the inclusion of the heroine's father as a character, as he served no real purpose. The author must have agreed because she eventually writes him out the story altogether, but it leaves some unresolved baggage. There's also a love scene towards the end that felt tacked on, which just seals the deal for yours truly. If it's a historical anthology, and it's not billed as "erotic," I want 'em sex-free. It just feels rushed and jarring otherwise.

The Bylin story is truly heartbreaking, and one I think will resonate with a lot of readers. It is linked to her debut novel, Of Men And Angels, but stands alone very well. However at times I couldn't help thinking this needed to be a full-length novel. The conflict is huge, and some readers might have a problem with Kath forgiving William in less than 100 pages.

The Lane story was probably my favorite. The main source of conflict is, naturally, Della's past. She doesn't get the best reception when people find out what she used to do for a living, but she hasn't let her past jade her outlook on life. She wants to start over and move on. Hunter lost his wife to consumption on Christmas Eve, and since then hasn't felt like celebrating much of anything, but agrees to let Della make the day special for his excited son. Again, I felt this could easily have been a full-length novel given the conflict, but it does work well as a short story.

Final Grade(s): Stacy = B-, Bylin = B and Lane = B. All the way around? A B. A very nice holiday read.

Learned Behavior

An interesting debate cropped up around Romance Blog Land over the weekend involving an unnamed author who paid "readers" through a service to chat up her books on various blogs. This coming on the heels of an interesting post over at Romancing The Blog about a very disconcerting bookseller panel at a recent conference.

Seriously now, I can't be the only one not surprised. It's just the latest evidence of the desperate measures some authors will go to to get noticed. That said, can we blame them? Yes, it's unsavory. Yes, it's dishonest. But no, we shouldn't be surprised - especially if it's romance authors going to such lengths.

Romance readers are the most voracious readers out there. It's nothing for them to plunk down hundreds (thousands even) of dollars on books every year and read anywhere from 1 to 10 books a week. They love the genre, and they are gluttons. They want more. In response to this, publishers are putting out more. Harlequin alone publishes over 100 books every, single month. Every month people! That's an obscene amount of competition.

Competition is the key here. Every author I know dreams of quitting their day job and making their livelihood as a "professional writer." In order to do that, they need to sell a mess of books. Enough books to where publishers will take notice and offer them nice, big contracts. With so many romances being published, the market saturated, this creates desperate authors. Of course they'll go to great, often obscene, lengths to promote their book.

I'm not saying this author should have paid for this "reader" commenting service, but I do understand why she did it.

I often wonder what Nora Roberts career would be like if she were starting out today. It took years of her churning out books, polishing her writing and paying her dues before she conquered the publishing industry. It took time. She wasn't an overnight sensation. Yet, these days that's the vibe that the publishing industry is giving off (at least from this lay person's perspective). Sink or swim. Sell well out of the gate, hit the bestseller lists or don't let the door smack you in the ass on the way out. Which means new and mid list authors spend an inordinate amount of their time dithering about "promo" and praying to the publishing gods.

Where does this leave the reader? Marginally desperate. This is why we're stuck with "trends." Authors want to make a living, publishers want to make money, so they latch on to the "hot new thing" until we're all bloody sick of it. It also means we have to get more savvy. Just as we learned to not trust every five star review over at Amazon, we must now learn to read through blog comments and posts carefully. Not that it will be hard. It's been my experience that the disingenuous comments can be seen from space. Hey, we may be romance readers, but having spent enough years online I think most of us are pretty jaded.

So no, I don't agree with what this author is doing and in my book it's right up there with paying someone to give you a favorable review. It stinks like week old fish. But am I surprised? Hardly.

Back With The Baseball

I know. I said I was done talking about baseball until at least Spring Training, but dang I just read the funniest story over at ESPN and it sort of involves my Tigers.

Our Triple A affiliate, the totally kick-ass Toledo Mudhens, have offered Alex Rodriguez a contract, even going so far as to send said offer to ARod's agent, Scott Boras.

I especially love the bit about how ARod would have to compete for the third base spot with Mike Hessman or be willing to move to a different position.

This bit of playfulness was obviously the result of Hank Steinbrenner's reaction to hearing ARod was opting out of his Yankee contract. Reportedly, George's demon-spawn son cracked, "Does he want to go into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee, or a Toledo Mud Hen?"

Seriously, priceless!

Personally I think ARod should sign a one-day deal with Toledo just to get some laughs. It's not like the guy has the most stellar PR image, and think of the humor and goodwill it would instill. I know I would loathe him a little bit less (I wouldn't stick any pins in my ARod voodoo doll for that whole day! Pinky swear!). Of course, I don't think he will because I seriously doubt ARod has a sense of humor. But it's nice to know the Mud Hens do.

And in case anyone cares - I'm happy about the Edgar Renteria deal and not very happy that Zumaya had shoulder surgery. That's baseball for ya!