TBR Challenge 2010: Welcome To Pleasantville

The Book: A Town Called Christmas by Carrie Alexander

The Particulars: Harlequin SuperRomance #1455, 2007, Out of Print. However, it is available to purchase digitally.

Why Was It In The Bat Cave TBR?: Carrie Alexander is an autobuy for me in the HSR line. Also, it's a Christmas story. I'm a sucker for a Christmas story - which I'm beginning to think the diabolical minds at Harlequin headquarters are all too aware of.

The Review: Michael Kavanaugh is a Navy pilot who has just received a Dear John letter from his fiancee. His BFF hates to think of his freshly-jilted buddy alone, over the holidays no less, and talks Michael into coming home with him to Christmas, Michigan (yes, this town does exist). Once there he meets Nicky's sister Meredith "Merry" York. Michael falls hook, line and sinker. He's so dazzled that he fails to notice, at first, that she's 5 months pregnant.

Merry had a great job, great condo and who she thought was a great boyfriend in Chicago. Then she ends up preggo and it all goes to Hell. When her father takes sick, Merry comes home to tiny, claustrophobic Christmas to take over the family tree farm. She has resigned herself to being alone. To raising her baby alone. And then Michael shows up, making her heart go pitter-patter. But he's only on leave for a week, and, oh yeah, she's pregnant. Michael doesn't strike her as the kind of guy to sign up for that kind of commitment after one week.

One thing I like about many of Alexander's Supers is that she uses Michigan's Upper Penisula as a setting. You've got beautiful scenery, good local color, plenty of characters, and she's from the area - so she writes it with authenticity. However in this case, I felt like I was reading a love letter to the U.P moreso than a romance between hero and heroine. Plenty of time is spent on the town of Christmas and the "local color" that is the holiday celebrations. Likewise, this is a big, involved family-type story. The HSR line is great because the stories are longer, so authors can toss in some secondary characters and subplots. But here it felt like too much. You've got brother Nicky, his wife, and their kids. You have 20-year-old sister Noelle and her boyfriend. You have Mom and Dad. You have a cantankerous aunt. There's also a secondary romance between the local fix-it repair woman and a shy, bashful writer. Between all those people and the Christmas goo-ga, Merry and Michael felt a little lost in the shuffle.

This is also one of those Small Town = Goody Goodness type stories. Which is fine. Really. But one thing I learned? These types of stories tend to work a lot better for me if there's a wee bit of angst in the proceedings, and this whole romance felt a little too easy to me. Yes, even with Merry being knocked up by another man. Yes, even with Michael being on the rebound. It should have been more angst-y, but wasn't. Even when Michael is debating about spending time with Merry, he does anyway. He pays lip-service to not getting too close, but then these two keep hanging out together. And they fall into their relationship like slipping on that ratty old pair of slippers you keep around because dang, they're so darn comfortable.

None of this makes this a bad book - just sort of ho-hum. It's certainly pleasant, and these are nice enough folks. Sure I was flummoxed why Merry wanted to keep the identity of the Baby Daddy under wraps from her family (even though it's obvious!) and sure it irritated that her mother was supposedly "scandalized" by her unmarried daughter's pregnancy even though Merry is thirty-frickin-six years old. But whatever. When you're born, raised and die in a small town - never leaving said town - scandals can be stuck in the 1950s.

Where does that leave me? Well, this story is just sort of there. If you're a reader looking for a simple, uncomplicated romance with that cozy small town vibe? This one just might do it for you. Sometimes you just need a read like that. No vampire lurking behind dark corners. No serial killers waiting in the bushes. That said, this one didn't really light a fire under me either way (no, OMG LURVE! and no, OMG BLEEDING EYES!). So yeah. Sorta there.

Final Grade = C

Random Romance Sunday: Purple Reign

The Book: Crystal Passion by Jo Goodman

The Particulars: Historical romance, Kensington Zebra, 1985, Out of Print. There was a 1999 reprint, but it is also Out of Print.

The Blurb:

RAPTURE'S BRILLIANCE

When Ashley awoke from her drugged sleep, she found herself in the bedchamber of a dark-haired, steel-eyed stranger. Before she could escape, his powerful hands had pinned her to the bed--before she could scream, his lips had captured hers. Before she could explain that her guardian had tricked them both with a vile and ruthless scheme, the rapture of his searing, searching caresses drove all thought from her mind. All she could feel was hunger for his touch, thirst for his kiss, and yearning for ecstasy's endless pleasures...

LOVE'S SPLENDOR
Captain Salem McClellan was amused to discover that the Duke of Linfield's hospitality included a lithe young beauty to warm his bed. Tangling his fingers in her ebony hair, exploring the creamy satin of her flesh with burning lips, he felt the fire of Ashley's response beneath him. Too late, he realized her innocence and knew he could never leave her to the Duke's mercy. For he was enchanted by her fierce pride, ensnared by her rare beauty, and enthralled by the night of shimmering CRYSTAL PASSION

Is It In Wendy's TBR?: Uh, no.

Any Reviews?: 1985 - so, uh, not really. Amazon customer reviews range from 2 to 5 stars.

Anything Else?: When looking for books to feature on RRS, I tend to randomly surf around FictionDB until something hits me upside the head. In this case, it was a whole lot of purple. That back cover blurb is so gleefully over-the-top, so 1980s, so....just....so wrong on so many levels that I knew I had to feature this book. Plus the eye-popping original cover! And it was Jo Goodman's second book! Seriously, I can't be expected to resist all that.

Kensington must have realized that the back cover blurb wasn't going to translate very well out of the 1980s, because when the book was reprinted in 1999, looks like they did some tinkering. The blurb on Goodman's web site has a lot of the same pertinent facts in it - but the purple is reined in considerably. The publisher also went with what I call Boring Reprint Cover Art. I sort of understand why this was done, but I don't know. I mean, if I want over-the-top, throwback, historical romance crazy - I'm going to be more drawn to cover and blurb #1. But that's how I roll.

There's a treasure trove of information on Goodman's web site (yeah!) - which details all the books in this particular series (this is Book #1 in the McClellan Family) and the author even includes interesting tidbits for each book. For example? Naming a hero "Salem" sounds like something straight out of a 1980s Romance Writing Handbook, right? Wrong-o. Goodman swiped the name from a guy she met at a friend's house.

I know there are several Goodman fans out there in Romance Bloglandia, so fire away folks. Have you read the McClellan Family series? What did you think? Do they stand the test of time? Or do they need to be "enjoyed" while firmly wearing your Old Skool Over-The-Top Eye-Glasses?

Librarian Goodness, Romance eBooks, Unusual Historicals and TBR Challenge

Sarah from YA Librarian Tales has interviewed me over at her blog for a semi-regular feature she calls "Life Behind The Reference Desk." As you can probably deduce, it's me talking about my day job. It's a really nice interview - complete with Sarah flattering the hell out of me, and me waxing poetic on a variety of library-related topics. Go on over and take a gander.

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There's an article today over at the New York Times all about the romance genre and ebooks featuring both Smart Bitch Sarah and Jane from Dear Author. I tend to gird my loins when the genre gets any sort mainstream media attention - going into the whole reading endeavor expecting the worst. It's just safer for my blood pressure that way. However, this is actually a really even-handed article (I thought) all about how romance readers have jumped on board the digital train in droves. The theory being that we have done so to hide the trashy cover art.

Now, while I think that's definitely part of the reason, I don't think it's the sole one. It's kind of hard to discount the whole "instant gratification" thing - also the desire to scoop up backlists that are "in print" for a nanosecond in paper, but have a longer life in digital formats (seriously, I love the way Harlequin handles their digital content. Love!)

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I've tweeted about this, but want to mention it here as well. The Unusual Historicals blog is celebrating their blogiversary this week with a variety of giveaways. A lot of really great writers contribute over there, and it's one of my favorite author-driven blogs to visit (even if I am crap for commenting!). If you're a historical lover, I encourage you to check them out!

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And hey! Don't forget you can now sign up for the 2011 TBR Challenge.

The Month That Was November 2010

Lemon Drop: Merry Christmas Auntie Wendy!

Me: My, my, my Lemon Drop. Don't you look festive?

Lemon Drop: It's hard work being this cute, but it's a living.

Me: Wow. Not only did your Mommy get the tree up, she has presents under it already, gift-wrapped even?

Lemon Drop: Yeah, I'm quickly learning that Mommy is a little particular about things....

Me: You mean....anal retentive?

Lemon Drop: Auntie Wendy! I would never say such a thing (the woman does change my diapers and feed me - I know which side my bread is buttered on!)

Me: Smart and cute. That's my girl. So, you wanna hear about what I read last month?

Lemon Drop: Fire away!

Ahem, OK. I read seven books last month. Would have liked to have that number be higher, but it's hard to argue with the quality. Title links will take you to full reviews.

Scoundrel by Zoe Archer, Victorian Historical Paranormal, Part of Series, Zebra, 2010, Grade = B-

• Book 2 in the Blades Of The Rose series. A truly delicious scoundrel hero, and a smart heroine breaking out of a sheltered mold her eviiiiiil father has erected around her. I felt the heroine could have wrestled more with the new-found knowledge that Daddy Is Evil, but thought the romance was nice and steamy, and loved the Greece setting.
  

Juggling Briefcase & Baby by Jessica Hart, Harlequin Romance #4199, Part of Series, 2010, Grade = A

• Not a perfect book, but one that earned an "A" thanks to the emotional gut-punch I got during the final chapters. There's a secret baby angle here (hero ain't the daddy) that annoyed the crap out of me, but the pay-off to the romance more than made up for it. For me at any rate. Hart may be my biggest discovery of 2010. Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Secret Baby, Daddy Issues (Hero & Heroine!), CEO, Reunited!, Single Mother, Opposites Attract
  

Wedding Date With The Best Man by Melissa McClone, Harlequin Romance #4193, Part of Series, 2010, Grade B+

• Heroine who called off her wedding 7 months ago after she discovered her fiance' was a lying cheat, finds herself spending time with his BFF - the guy who would have been the best man. Nice use of the Big Secret trope (the hero's got one) and setting (San Diego and Las Vegas) Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Heroine Done Wrong, Opposites Attract, Big Secret, Three Now Happily Married BFFs, One Slimy Ex-Fiance'.
  

Deserted Island, Dreamy Ex by Nicola Marsh, Harlequin Romance #4194, 2010, Grade = B+

• Heroine finds herself reunited with the hero who broke her heart eight years ago when they're both tapped to film a documentary. A documentary that will require them to be alone on a deserted island for a week. Two stubborn characters lead to great confrontation scenes and a hard-fought happily-ever-after. Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Reunited!, Commitment Issues (Hero), One Down-And-Out Sister.
  

To Find You Again by Maureen McKade, Historical Western Romance, Berkley, 2004, Grade = B

• My TBR Challenge read for the month. A solid western from McKade. Great outsider hero, and a heroine torn between two worlds. At times I felt the heroine's naivete didn't mesh with her "life experiences," and I would have liked a more in depth reason for her Daddy hatin' on the hero, but other than that? A good, solid read.
  

Rebel by Zoe Archer, Victorian Historical Paranormal, Part of Series, Zebra, 2010, Grade = B

• Book 3 in the Blades Of The Rose series and my favorite so far. Really liked the capable, strong and wounded heroine. A good, solid paranormal hero. Good use of frontier Vancouver as a setting, and it sets up the final book in the series quite well.
  

Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto by Liz Fielding, Harlequin Romance #4206, 2010, Grade = C+

• Cinderella's fairy tale comes crashing down around her ears, and leads her straight into the arms of an emotionally wounded Beast hero. Nice holiday feel to a story that felt ready-made for either the small or big screen. Found the romance a bit lacking though, especially given the short time frame between heroine's Failed Relationship to happy ending with our hero. Harlequin Cheat Sheet: Heroine On The Run, Wounded Hero, Christmas, Cinderella, Beauty And The Beast, One Slimy Ex-Fiance'.
  

Lemon Drop: Did Mommy get to you? Where's the steamy stuff?

Me: Well, the Zoe Archer books are pretty steamy....

Lemon Drop: No menage a trois? No fetishes? What gives?!

Me: Hey, a librarian cannot live on erotica alone. That, and I got distracted by Harlequin Romances this month. That's a line your Mommy would approve of.

Lemon Drop: Kisses! All I get are kisses? Bah!

Me: Well, maybe next month kiddo.

Annoucing The 2011 TBR Challenge!

The TBR Challenge is a long-standing Romance Bloglandia tradition. One that I didn't fully participate in until this year. I had such a great time on this challenge that when I asked Keishon on Twitter if she was going to organize it again for 2011 she replied, "You wanna host?" To which I said, "Heck yeah!"

In the spirit of getting everyone's attention before the holiday craziness hits overdrive (uh, too late?) - I'm going to begin sign-up for 2011 right now. I have created a page devoted to the challenge with all the pertinent details. You can find this page on my sidebar by clicking on the graphic (feel free to steal this by the way!) or under my About The Bat Cave section.

I'm pretty much going to run the challenge the exact same way Keishon and Angela James have done so in the past. The only real difference? Instead of the word "review," I've adopted the word "commentary." The word "review" seems to put off some readers - whereas commentary sounds more like "Hey, I just read this book, let me tell you about it." Also, this commentary can happen anywhere online - your blog, Twitter, Facebook, a message board, GoodReads etc. Just provide me a link when you sign-up, that way people who want to follow the challengers know how to find you.

TBR Challenge Day will once again be on the 3rd Wednesday of every month, and I'm also keeping with tradition by providing reading themes (which are totally voluntary, but there for those of you who like a little guidance).

Interested in signing up? Leave a comment on this blog post, or you can find my e-mail address at the bottom of the TBR Challenge 2011 information page. And again, be sure to include a link.

C'mon, you know you want to. It'll be fun! If anything, it might help kick-start the cleaning out of your own TBR Mountain Range.....

Random Romance Sunday: Velvet And Lucian Go To The Beach

The Book: Tainted By Temptation by Katy Madison

The Particulars: Historical Gothic Romance, Avon, Upcoming release January 25, 2011

The Blurb:

Which were more dangerous–his secret desires…or her own?

Cruel false gossip and scandal follow Velvet Campbell everywhere she goes in London—and for the sake of her sanity she must get away. Accepting a position as a governess at an estate in remote Cornwall, Velvet hopes to start over, untainted by rumor. But she finds to her dismay that her new employer—the darkly handsome Lucian Pendar—is, himself, the subject of whispered insinuations…that he hurled his wife to her death from nearby treacherous cliffs.

But angel or demon, Lucian affects Velvet in ways she never dreamed possible, causing her heart to race, stealing the breath from her body with a look. As their mutual attraction grows, there is no resisting the passion that flares between them. Yet, as secrets from both their pasts rise to the surface, Velvet is haunted by one inescapable question: has she found a kindred spirit, her destined love…or placed herself in dire peril?

Is It In Wendy's TBR?: An ARC landed on my desk at work this week, so yeah.

Any Reviews?: Not yet, as the book doesn't come out until late January. However the author has garnered some quotes from authors Anna Campbell, Laurie Brown and Carla Cassidy....if you're one to pay attention to such things.

Anything Else?: I'm highlighting this book for two reasons: 1) it's a Gothic! and 2) that cover art isn't doing this debut author any favors. Why? Because I love Gothics. I especially love historical Gothics with no paranormal crap tucked inside the pages. Looking at this cover and title though? Yeah, no clue. Generic title with equally generic cover art. I mean, I guess you could go out on a limb by saying the crashing surf is Gothic-y, but that's a major stretch (says me).

Anywho.....

I know all Gothic cover blurbs sound identical, but I cut my teeth on these sorts of books in my younger pre-Super Librarian days. I wasn't into these books for the romance. Oh no. I read authors like Barbara Michaels and Victoria Holt because the darker atmosphere and mystery-like plots appealed to me. Also there's something inherently compelling about a tall, dark, mysterious, and maybe slightly dangerous hero. You want to climb inside his head, poke around in the dark corners, and see what makes him tick. I also think that some of the best Gothics were heroine-driven stories - and admittedly I'm a bit of a heroine-centric reader (major understatement of the year).

And honestly, this sounds like it could be full of Old School Gothic-y Goodness. Cornwall! A hero named Lucian! A heroine named Velvet! It's like the Wayback Machine has dumped me back in time to when I was 16 and poking around the shelves at my local public library. That teeny piece of me that's still stuck in my teenage years is literally swooning....

Harlequin Holiday Goodness, Toy Bat Caves, And The Real SoCalBloggers

If you haven't heard already, today marks the first day of the awesome sauce Harlequin Historical Holiday Giveaway. Twenty-two Harlequin Historical writers are hosting an advent calender, where every day you'll visit a different writer. Daily prizes will be offered and at the end of the whole shebang - one random commenter from one random day will win a Kindle 3G! Wowzers! Contest is open to residents of the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. Full list of rules can be found here and the advent calender, complete with links, can be found here.

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For the librarian who has everything, behold! The Fisher Price Super Friends Bat Cave! It's got a working draw bridge and comes with a grappling hook. It also comes with a neato Batcycle. What it doesn't have is a library. I mean, I know Wayne Manor must have a library, but I'm guessing it's full of musty ol' leather bound editions. Uh, not romance novels. Bruce Wayne is pretty awesome, but something tells me he doesn't have Harlequins in his library. Oh well, no man is perfect.

Many thanks to one of my longtime Internet buds, Barbs, for the link. Oh to be a kid again....

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Ever wish you could jet off to sunny southern California and hang out with the fabulous babes that are the SoCalBloggers? Do you get pea green with envy when you read about our get-togethers at area bookstores and restaurants? Do you curse our very existence when we admit that we were all lazy sods and none of us took any pictures? Well wonder now more! Because here is artist Vinnie Tartamella's amazing life-like rendition. Yes, this is what it's really like!


As the resident Batgirl, I have to say that I normally don't look that snotty. My guess? Hey, I like poker, but where for the love of God is the cheesecake?!?!?!

Thanks to Big Sis for posting this gem on her Facebook.