Library Musings…Romance novels

The other day I was reading Smart Bitches, Trashy Books when I came across this post. It’s all about defending the genre of romance. I am, and always have been, a huge fan of trashy romances so I was very excited to see what these white knights had to say. And I was happy to see intelligent, academically backed logic explaining how the romance genre promoted girl-power and a general message of “life your life to the fullest!”

Seeing such praise makes me happy. You see, the romance genre played a huge part in my growth as a reader. They were some of the first adult books to really hook me. I’ve read Julie Garwood’s historical romances multiple times each. Loved. Them.

People always seem to be embarrassed to be seen reading books of this genre. Perhaps, because of their sometimes explicit artwork. I never thought to hide the covers. I can honestly say, I didn’t know to feel shamed by them. I think the two main reasons for this were:

1. Fabio didn’t usually appear on my covers. I don’t know if this was chance or choice…But while I do enjoy beautiful cover art, rarely does it factor into my choice of book. I’m blinded by things like a good summary. Yes, I know I’m a weirdo.
2. My family doesn’t have any closet romance readers. The only two reactions I’ve ever received from family members when it comes to my reading are:
1. Put down the book! Pay attention to your [family, friend, dog, mother, food, etc]
2. A generic Wow, we’re so [proud, surprised, amazed, happy, etc] that you love reading so much.

No one ever told me it was wrong to read these books. So I did. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to read a happy book were people save the day and fall in love. Where a smart woman is appreciated and loved not just in spite of her quirks but because of them…

Earlier this year my reading BFF RachelKiwi came to me in book withdrawal. She wanted another Outlander, another Bronze Horseman, another Tea Rose. So I asked her…

“What do you love about those books”

She replied “I like a bad boy to fall in love and become reformed by a woman; I love the romance”

I informed her that what she was craving was basically the plot of every romance novel ever written.

But, *gasp* RachelKiwi didn’t read Those kinds of books. At least she didn’t until I force lent her some from my Nook.

She Tried

She Loved

While I think she’d admit that the romance genre still isn’t her favorite. She’d def. go so far as to say that they were better than she had been expecting, and that she very much enjoyed them in small dosages.

She’s nothing if not a woman who loves Love…

Which brings me to this awesome video by Maya Rodale. It’s the book trailer for her book:

Dangerous Books for Girls:

The Bad Reputation of Romance Novels, Explained.

I wish I was as smart as this woman. She’s not only a published romance author herself, she has a new book based on research from her Master’s thesis. It’s all about the history of the romance novel and the history of women as authors and readers. The video alone makes me want to go back to school and study such things myself…Anyone got a couple grand lying around I could borrow? Wanna further my education? Give me a winning lotto ticket?

As it is, my mind is abuzz with ways to use this video with my students. [If only it didn’t say ‘orgasm’ it would be a lot easier to use with high school students, lol] Just watching it makes me want to debate literature and the role of women. It makes me want to give a big Fist Pump to the romance genre and how I love it so.

If you’re still with me…here’s the video…comment or tweet to join the discussion. What do YOU think of the Romance Genre…

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One Foot in the Grave (Night Huntress #2) by Jeaniene Frost

BookTalk

Four years ago Cat left Bones…the man who taught her everything she knows about vampires and vampire hunting. Also, the only man she’s ever loved.

Now Cat is leading a special team of government agents in the war against the paranormal miscreants of the world…and she’s stumbled upon one of the most powerful: Ian, the man who also happens to be Bone’s sire. Cat’s good but she’s not that good, and while Cat leaves Ian alive and un-dead she also happened to kill one of Ian’s oldest and most revered servants. Setting off a chain of events that will leave members of her team dead…and undead…

But the heart of our story isn’t about working relationships, or friends…it’s about Bones finding his way back into Cat’s life after four very long years. And back into her heart…forever…

Review

I love this series. I was a little thrown by the premise of this installment taking place so long after the first. Four years is a long time and I was worried that it would hinder the romantic progression of Bones coming back into Cat’s life. Really, I should have feared not.

Bones is almost instantly back in Cat’s life. Not back in her bed from the get-go, but back as a fellow vampire fighter and trainer. Though, the love doesn’t follow far behind.

I loved getting to know Cat’s team. The men are rough and tough and it was interesting to see them at a point where Cat had a new member. It showed the testaments she needed to make to gain trust from the men, but also assured the reader that she was accepted as their leader as well as a friend. Watching the final team member slowly integrate and trust Cat was almost like watching a relationship develop…Gave you the new relationship feeling that was missing from Cat and Bones. Mostly because Cat and Bones aren’t new.

Nope, Cat and Bones come to this book with previous expectations. High Expectations. And this book does deliver. The relationship is strong and still growing. Frost allows her characters to grow without changing who they are at their base. The repartee between the two is still strong as is the heat of their love. A little jealousy is thrown in (on both sides) to add a little spice.

Readers who enjoyed the first book will find the same Cat and Bones, just a little older, and a little stronger. Like fine wine they’re only getting better with age.

Rating: 4/5 Well done second installment with actual character growth!

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Dangerous Magic by Alix Rickloff

BookTalk

Gwenyth Killigrew, the Witch of Kerrow is used to being woken up in the dead of night. At the spinsterly age of 30, Gwenyth has been performing the duties of healer and midwife for Kerrow and the surrounding lands for many years. Very little could shake the unflappable calm that comes with Gwenyth’s beauty, experience, and her ability of second Sight.

But then the seas brought her Captain Rafe Flemming. A dangerous man, a pirate both on and off the high seas, Captain Flemming has been running a prosperous smuggling trade off the west coast for years. Rafe was born to the peerage and fell from grace during a Navy mutiny. Now he’s found himself on the famous Witch of Kerrow’s doorstep soaking wet and bleeding.

Both the Witch and the Captain have hidden desires…Gwenyth for a daughter to whom she can pass on her gift of sight and healing…Rafe for revenge upon those who wronged him in the past…

They’ve struck a bargain, these two lonely characters. Rafe will play stud to Gwenyth’s child if Gwenyth will travel to Rafe’s ancestral home and use her Sight to find him a wife. But both will have to throw their carefully laid plans to the wind if they are to take a chance on love…

Review

I was surprised how much I grew to like this book. I wasn’t sure in the beginning if the tale was going to be well told or not. At times I felt like the author didn’t complete thoughts for me…didn’t fully set a scene. I’d just pop into something days after the last scene. Not a whole lot of prep for that.

But, and this is most important in a romance, I began to like and understand my characters. I really enjoyed Gwenyth. Her second sight added a lot of understanding to the text, and the integration of her powers were really well done. Plus, Gwenyth was so sure of herself, confident even when she had been thrown to the wolves of the Ton. Bravo.

And that scene…the one where they break up (yeah, you know it happens in all romances, lol). Ugh, heartbreaking…why, oh why, can’t she have her love now! Let it all go! Take a chance! I can’t go further than that without risking major spoilers…but that scene we see through Cecily’s eyes…let’s just say *tear*

Rafe bordered on a bit of asshole-ness for a good bit of the text. But he never crossed the line into a territory in which I disliked him, or his decisions. Rafe always seemed to come through in the end. By the time the whole dream-prophesy hits…you’ll be rooting for the guy. Because Rafe has had some drama in his life, made a mistake or two, but he really deserved happiness and so does Gwenyth. You’ll really want them to find that happiness together.

3.7/5: Witchy romance that has all the heat and the heart to go along with it.

*Copy received from Carina Press via NetGalley…Thanks!*

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Halfway to the Grave (Night Huntress #1) by Jeaniene Frost

BookTalk

Catherine Crawfield has daddy issues.

You see, she is the product of a rape and has lived her life being reminded of this fact daily by her mother and extremely religious grandparents. But Cat’s story gets worse. You see her father wasn’t just a normal jerk, he was an undead jerk…

Yep, Catherine Crawfield is half vampire and all rage against the undead. From the age of 16 with her mother’s blessing and support, Cat has been sneaking off to clubs to lure and kill vampires. She’s had lots of luck until the night she meets Bones.

Bones is a master vampire, the man who shows Cat she’s been dealing with boys her whole life…both on and off the job. He offers to train Cat toward a goal that suits them both. There’s a ring of both undead and living who are trapping young women into a blood-slave-labor. Together they’ll take down the evil and Bones will give Cat all the knowledge she’s been missing…If she can let her heart overcome her prejudice for all things Vampire…

Review

I am a weak person.

WEAK

I have too many books in my TBR. Too many books in NetGalley and Library form that have a shelf life ticking down in my Adobe Reader. *gasp* How did [blank] get down to just 2 days?! *eek*

But I did it anyway. I’ve read a few books recently that were just so/so. They were decent. The type of book I’d give a 3 star to. Even the type I’d give a 4 star rating…just happens to also be a book I wasn’t really in the mood for when I read it. I was beginning to get bookish-ly depressed. I reached out into the world of Twitter and said: “Someone please throw me a lifeline! A good trashy romance I’ll become addicted to!”

The Sweetest Little Bookworm answered…And all I have to say is:

Be Careful What You Wish For…

I have fallen Head Over Heals for Cat and Bones. This book was exactly what I needed! The romance is wonderful. It’s all hot and heavy a few times toward the end. But it’s watching Bones de-thaw Cat’s prim and proper nature that provides all the fun and *swoonworthy* moments.

Ahh, the scene where Bones surprises Cat with a date…

Hilarious slutty-makeover…Dirty conversations trying to avoid blushes…No underwear…Loved it all!

What makes this more than my so/so trashy romances of late is that this book has depth. It’s my first series where the love interests are the same throughout the series. And I like it. As I move on to other books in the series I can see how these characters will continue to develop and change…yet they keep the spark alive!

Also, this series is one of the few paranormals I’ve read that openly adds religion into the picture. Traditional Christian stories provide background for the Vampiric race. And Cat herself openly makes reference to having faith. No issue is made of the religious references, no discussion of the soul a la Twilight, just very casual references that serve to deepen Cat’s character in a very natural way. This is big because Cat’s family is Uber-Religious and very Anti-Vampire. Frost could have made a bigger deal out of the religion as a theme in the book and yet, because Cat so easily makes a few religious statements the need for the discussion is gone. Beautifully done.

Ugh, So In Love with this series right now it’s taking all I have to split some of my time with Books that NEED to be read. If someone wouldn’t mind scooting over to my house tonight and reminding me to put Book 3 down…thanks 😉

Rating: 5/5 Paranormal Romance with alotta Heat and alotta Soul

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Exclusively Yours (Kowalski Family #1) by Shannon Stacey

It’s Kowalski Family Week!

So last week I fell in Love…with a books series! I started Shannon Stacey’s series about a large, loud, loving family from the North East. I read the first book and then quickly devoured the rest. So my booktalk/review posts of the week feature the three books currently released in the series. The week ends with an interview with the Author herself to give us a peek into writing about Kowalski family.

Without Further Ado…Kowalski Family #1: Exclusively Yours…

BookTalk

Joe Kowalski was Keri Daniels’ first…Her high school sweetheart, her first serious boyfriend, and her first lover. Together they created memories to the tunes of Whitesnake on lover’s lane. And that fresh young love is still the best sex she’s ever had. But at graduation Keri surprisingly drops Joe heading to the west coast to pursue a name for herself in journalism.

After years of no contact Keri finds herself one step away from the masthead of a major celebrity magazine and Joe has become a bestselling but reclusive author. Once, Joe had been in a relationship splashed across the tabloids, it ended in lawsuit mystery…and no one knows what happened behind courtroom doors. Now Keri’s boss has found out her childhood connection to Joe and has laid an ultimatum at Keri’s feet: Get an interview, and the dirt, on Joe and the promotion she’s worked her whole career for is hers…Fail and she’ll find herself with a pink slip searching for a new job.

Keri wrangles the interview…In exchange for spending a two-week vacation in the country with the Kowalski family Joe will answer one question a day. You see, Keri isn’t the only one with an agenda. Keri is the girl Joe never got over, and after seeing her again he doesn’t plan on letter her go anytime soon…But can a high school love stand the test of time?…and the test of two solid weeks with the family?…

Review

I’ll admit I wasn’t so sure of this book at the start. The main characters were close to 40 and while I’m not ageist, it does tend to mean that the romance is going to be of the mature variety. Full of romantic meals and steamy scenes that end at the bedroom door…what’s happening in the sheets not meant for the readers eyes. While that can be enjoyable it wasn’t quite what I was in the mood for…

So I guess it’s a good thing that this was NOT that mature romance book…Steamy scenes, witty banter, and hot muscles abound!

Keri and Joe had chemistry in high school and from the first time they meet in Exclusively Yours they have it again. The references to the couple’s 80’s love are sweet and funny. Full of clichés including big hair, bad cars, and Whitesnake. What really got me was when Joe puts Keri in “the Locker Pose”. The one where a girl would be leaning against a locker and the guy has one leg in-between hers with either hand on the locker beside her head. I suppose I’m describing this poorly…but I could just picture that pose from high school! Where the couple of the moment flaunted their relationship for the whole 5 minutes between periods. Like a pre-Facebook relationship update.

This family is definitely of the down-home American kind. For the family vacation they take off to camp grounds (granted in a few luxury RV’s because Joe is a famous millionaire author) to take ATV’s (four wheelers) off-roading and cook some smores by the campfire. The family is honest, sweet, and completely involved in each other’s lives. But some of my favorite relationship moments came from the other family couples…

An extravagant anniversary gift that cleared up any hesitation about love in the marriage…

The purchase of an ugly marble table and shoes with sex…

Honestly, the scene with the couple and the table (don’t want to spoil anything!) had me rolling on the floor laughing out loud…an honest to goodness ROTFLOL moment. It was sooo sweet too.

I liked Stacey’s characters. They were real people with real issues. Which makes seeing them reconnect their love over these everyday issues all the more squeal-worthy and heart-warming.

This is the first of a series of 3…and I’ve already started book 2, Uniquely Yours. The promise of the hot, ex-cop, ab-baring, younger brother falling in love was too much to bear! And from the start it seems even better than the first.

Rating: 8/10

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Genuine Lies by Nora Roberts

BookTalk

As a child Julia was adopted into a loving family. While she had no record of the woman who gave her up, her childhood was idyllic. Then, as a pregnant teen Julia found herself faced with the same heartbreaking decision…keep her child or give him up.

10 years later Julia Summers is famous for her celebrity biographies. Working with the rich and famous she tells the tales of their lives with panache. Now, Julia and her son Brandon find themselves on a plane to glamorous L.A. to live and research the life of Eve Benedict. The ultimate star for over half a century in a business that chews up and spits out actresses. This story will switch from Eve’s numerous love affairs to the modern romancing of Julia and Eve’s surrogate son, Paul.

But as Eve’s life is revealed man by man, and secret by secret Julia and Eve are about to encounter mysterious people who will stop at nothing to prevent seeing their secrets in print. Secrets that will place some in jail and ruin other’s lives. Unwilling to edit Eve’s legacy Julia and Eve will pay the ultimate price.

Review

Holy 80’s!…Ok, so the book was originally published in 1991 but really, we’re splitting hairs. Eve and Julia walk around in coral colored silk jackets and elegant leisure pajamas. And the trainer Fritz…OMG this quote had me cracking up!

“Standing beside Eve as she lay on a weight bench doing leg curls was Mr. Muscle…He had to be nearly seven feet – a Nordic god whose bronze body bulged out of an incredibly brief unitard.”

Seriously?!…Unitard?!…Sexy?!…

Only in the 80’s (-ish) could this be possible. Don’t worry Mr. Muscle ends up being gay (could explain the unitard) but he is still continuously viewed throughout the book as some sexy, unitard wearing, eye candy. Love It! Aside from the dated cultural references this book still pleases the romance fan. Julia and Paul’s relationship doesn’t get a whole lot of development or play. What is more interesting is Eve’s long history of men.

Roberts traces Eve’s romantic history from her very first husband/lover to the multiple affairs still in Eve’s life at the age of 67. This woman has it going on. What’s so refreshing is that Eve’s character is able to look back on her history and honestly relate the specifics of each relationship. She admits when she’s made a mistake, and also proves true emotion where most tabloids have written her off. It made me wonder about the celebrities we all follow, and the judgements we place at their feet. There’s definitely a lot we don’t know and a lot we take for granted. To see a fictional account of a celebrity life made me interested in real celebrity relationships. What really went down with Bennifer? Brad and Jen? Brad and Angelina? heck, I’d even like to see an honest breakdown of the Speidi ordeal.

Maybe I should pick up a celebrity bio…anyone have a good suggestion?

Anyway, back to the book…Alongside Eve’s romances are a slew of industry secrets and lies. Seriously, I had no idea who was threatening Julia and Eve because so many people were accused of hideous ordeals in Eve’s stories. S&M sex with the underage, torrid secret affairs, aborted love children…murder. This woman was mowing people down with her tale. Just about anyone had more than enough reason to want to stop the story. How all the secrets wind together is really fun to see. And the big shocker of the book is one you’ll probably see coming about halfway through (Paul tipped me off) but it’s not a secret you’ll see coming from the start of the book…definitely a really good twist.

In the end what I enjoyed most about this Roberts title was that it was different. The big love story of this tale happens in Eve’s past…not Julia’s present. It was fun to go back in time to the golden days of Hollywood and see all that old school romance. This book is full of champagne, love affairs, and secrets. It’s a fun romp through the 80’s with a murder mystery to boot. A good choice if you’re in the mood for some retro-trashy-romance.

Rating: 8/10

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