The title is one of my favorite things about this book!
Dancing with Sin by Jane Goodger
(1998, Victorian American) 6/12/06
Grade: 4
Even though she’s been married for six months, Rose is still an innocent in many ways - and still finds her husband a mystery. When she’s befriended by a lively neighbor, Rose enjoys being a little bit sinful, and she hopes that it will bring new life to her marriage - but she never expected to be caught up in a murder.
An interesting and compelling book. Rose is a fascinating character, although I sometimes wanted to shake her as her naivete gets her into serious trouble. And her relationship with her husband is well depicted; it’s a nice change to read about an ongoing relationship instead of the usual courtship story. The murder trial seemed to go on a bit too long - I was more interested in Rose and Luke than in the legal intrigues - but it kept the story moving. I would have liked a little more wrap-up at the end, but that’s a minor quibble.
Even though I enjoyed the character development of the first two thirds more than the murder mystery and trial of the last third, I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Flawed Characters Make a Good Read
Sometimes the flawed characters are the most interesting.
Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala
(1998, Contemporary) 6/11/06
Grade: 4.5
In many ways Tory has never recovered from her childhood - her mother’s disappearance, her years in foster care. She still can’t commit, or risk the hurt of loving again. Her sporadic relationship with Brett Hooker is the closest she can come to love. But if she can find out what really happened in her past, can she free herself and allow herself to love again?
I loved the characters in this book - the way Tory is still damaged from the pain of her past, the way Brett loves her despite her flaws. Their relationship seemed so real. Even though the mystery storyline was crucial to the plot, I resented the time it took away from the character development. But still, the book was very satisfying.
I couldn't quite figure out how to grade this one, but I liked the characters so much, I had to give it a little bit of extra credit.
Sweet Baby by Sharon Sala
(1998, Contemporary) 6/11/06
Grade: 4.5
In many ways Tory has never recovered from her childhood - her mother’s disappearance, her years in foster care. She still can’t commit, or risk the hurt of loving again. Her sporadic relationship with Brett Hooker is the closest she can come to love. But if she can find out what really happened in her past, can she free herself and allow herself to love again?
I loved the characters in this book - the way Tory is still damaged from the pain of her past, the way Brett loves her despite her flaws. Their relationship seemed so real. Even though the mystery storyline was crucial to the plot, I resented the time it took away from the character development. But still, the book was very satisfying.
I couldn't quite figure out how to grade this one, but I liked the characters so much, I had to give it a little bit of extra credit.
Good Story, So-So Romance
Ruth Wind is always worth reading, even when a book isn't a keeper.
The Last Chance Ranch by Ruth Wind (SSE 977)
(1995, Contemporary Series) 6/10/06
Grade: 3.5
Eleven years after going to jail for shooting her abusive husband, Tanya will finally be able to see her son again. He was adopted by her husband’s cousin, Ramon, who founded a school for troubled boys, and Tanya will be working as a cook there, where she can see Antonio from afar. But can she be a mother again - and a lover and wife again?
Another book with a mixture of good and bad. Tanya was a great character, well written and sympathetic. Ramon was also sympathetic and well written, but I didn’t find their romance all that believable. I was more interested in Tanya’s adjustment to the outside world, and her relationship with her son and the other boys at the school. The “romance” seemed a bit out of place and distracting. Ruth Wind always writes well, but this wasn’t one of my favorites.
Although I'm not a big fan of Barbara Samuel's "women's fiction", this book might have been better if a romance hadn't been shoehorned into it.
The Last Chance Ranch by Ruth Wind (SSE 977)
(1995, Contemporary Series) 6/10/06
Grade: 3.5
Eleven years after going to jail for shooting her abusive husband, Tanya will finally be able to see her son again. He was adopted by her husband’s cousin, Ramon, who founded a school for troubled boys, and Tanya will be working as a cook there, where she can see Antonio from afar. But can she be a mother again - and a lover and wife again?
Another book with a mixture of good and bad. Tanya was a great character, well written and sympathetic. Ramon was also sympathetic and well written, but I didn’t find their romance all that believable. I was more interested in Tanya’s adjustment to the outside world, and her relationship with her son and the other boys at the school. The “romance” seemed a bit out of place and distracting. Ruth Wind always writes well, but this wasn’t one of my favorites.
Although I'm not a big fan of Barbara Samuel's "women's fiction", this book might have been better if a romance hadn't been shoehorned into it.
More Angst
I've had these two books by Theresa Weir in my TBR for years - saving them for a rainy day.
Forever by Theresa Weir
(1991, Contemporary) 6/7/06
Grade: 4
After a car accident, Sammy wakes up in the hospital, angry and confused, unable to remember the last twenty years. In his mind, he’s still 19, before Vietnam and the many disappointments since. His case seems hopeless, but through the dedication of a troubled doctor, Rachel Collins, he finds a way to rebuild his life - but can he help to heal the healer?
The first half of this book was terrific - Sammy’s confusion and anger, his struggle to rebuild his life without his memory. His professional relationship with Rachel was interesting, but I didn’t find his romance with her as convincing. Her troubles were just as serious as his, but they always seemed less interesting compared to Sammy’s. I enjoyed the book as Sammy’s story, but it didn’t quite work as a romance.
One Fine Day by Theresa Weir
1994, Contemporary) 6/8/06
Grade: 3.5
Molly has finally decided to leave her unhappy marriage, and is making a new life in Florida - when her husband has a stroke. She has to come home and take care of him, for her daughter’s sake. And she finds unexpected depths in the husband she thought she knew, as he struggles to live with the effects of the stroke, and save his marriage.
A frustrating mix of good and bad. The characters were hard to accept after reading Forever - Austin isn’t bad, he’s just misunderstood - but I started to like him, and like Molly. But the misunderstandings continue too long, and are often interrupted by meanderings that take up too much space. (The romance between Mark and Gabrielle is sweet, but is just too distracting.) And yet, there were real moments of heartfelt emotion as well.
Both of these were hard to grade - mixtures of good and bad.
Forever by Theresa Weir
(1991, Contemporary) 6/7/06
Grade: 4
After a car accident, Sammy wakes up in the hospital, angry and confused, unable to remember the last twenty years. In his mind, he’s still 19, before Vietnam and the many disappointments since. His case seems hopeless, but through the dedication of a troubled doctor, Rachel Collins, he finds a way to rebuild his life - but can he help to heal the healer?
The first half of this book was terrific - Sammy’s confusion and anger, his struggle to rebuild his life without his memory. His professional relationship with Rachel was interesting, but I didn’t find his romance with her as convincing. Her troubles were just as serious as his, but they always seemed less interesting compared to Sammy’s. I enjoyed the book as Sammy’s story, but it didn’t quite work as a romance.
One Fine Day by Theresa Weir
1994, Contemporary) 6/8/06
Grade: 3.5
Molly has finally decided to leave her unhappy marriage, and is making a new life in Florida - when her husband has a stroke. She has to come home and take care of him, for her daughter’s sake. And she finds unexpected depths in the husband she thought she knew, as he struggles to live with the effects of the stroke, and save his marriage.
A frustrating mix of good and bad. The characters were hard to accept after reading Forever - Austin isn’t bad, he’s just misunderstood - but I started to like him, and like Molly. But the misunderstandings continue too long, and are often interrupted by meanderings that take up too much space. (The romance between Mark and Gabrielle is sweet, but is just too distracting.) And yet, there were real moments of heartfelt emotion as well.
Both of these were hard to grade - mixtures of good and bad.
A Smile, A Tear
Megan Chance never writes a traditional story, but I'm always willing to go wherever she takes me.
A Season in Eden by Megan Chance
(1999, American West) 6/6/06
Grade: 4.5
Four years after her marriage, Lora’s heart has grown cold, shuttered by tragedy. When her husband Eli announces that he’s going away to find work, she barely notices. But as she spends the summer on the farm with hired hand will, she begins to see the world again - and when Eli comes home injured, she has to find a way to live and love again.
An emotional, heartbreaking book that vividly depicts a time and place. Lora’s coldness is hard to understand at first, but as her secret is revealed, she becomes more understandable. The men aren’t developed as deeply, especially will, but Lora’s gradual return to life is well done. The pacing is a bit off - the section in the middle goes on a little too long, and the emotional scenes at the end a little too late - but that’s a minor quibble. The book ends with such heart (and a few tears), that it was well worth reading.
Sometimes a book has such a good ending, it makes the rest of the book seem better. I'd probably grade most of this book as a 4, but the last couple of chapters push it almost into keeper territory.
A Season in Eden by Megan Chance
(1999, American West) 6/6/06
Grade: 4.5
Four years after her marriage, Lora’s heart has grown cold, shuttered by tragedy. When her husband Eli announces that he’s going away to find work, she barely notices. But as she spends the summer on the farm with hired hand will, she begins to see the world again - and when Eli comes home injured, she has to find a way to live and love again.
An emotional, heartbreaking book that vividly depicts a time and place. Lora’s coldness is hard to understand at first, but as her secret is revealed, she becomes more understandable. The men aren’t developed as deeply, especially will, but Lora’s gradual return to life is well done. The pacing is a bit off - the section in the middle goes on a little too long, and the emotional scenes at the end a little too late - but that’s a minor quibble. The book ends with such heart (and a few tears), that it was well worth reading.
Sometimes a book has such a good ending, it makes the rest of the book seem better. I'd probably grade most of this book as a 4, but the last couple of chapters push it almost into keeper territory.
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