I'm always a fan of unusual heroes, so of course I was all over this book!
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
(2009, Victorian) 5/21/09
Grade: 4
Lord Ian Mackenzie is considered rather “odd”. Some people call him mad. But widowed heiress Beth Ackerley sees his kindness and his sexual attraction, and wants to get to know him better - in bed and out of it. But will secrets from his past drive them apart?
This book had a slow start. I was intrigued by Ian and Beth in the first couple of chapters, but then the book got bogged down in lengthy introductions of Ian’s brothers (set up for their own books), as well as a complicated murder mystery and long detailed sex scenes. The characters got lost, and I began to wonder if the book was worth finishing. Thankfully, in the second half , the author settled down and focused on Beth and Ian, and the book got much more interesting. I’m no expert on Aspergers, but the characterization of Ian rang true (most of the time), and the author was able to balance Ian’s problems with the romantic necessity of making him capable of a relationship with Beth. I also found Beth an interesting and unique character, with an unusual background that felt very Victorian. The mystery was perhaps a little too convoluted, and it depended too much on bringing in a villain at the last minute, but after the first section, it managed to influence the events of the book without taking over. Overall, I enjoyed the book very much, although it didn’t grab me emotionally (surprisingly, considering the subject), maybe because it took so long to really get going.
It's surprising, a number of authors have written books about "mad" heroes, but then the books don't really pay off with a deeply emotional story that focuses on the hero and his problems. Although this book was enjoyable, I was disappointed that so much space was taken up by the mystery, when what I really wanted was more of the hero and less of "who killed the prostitute". I can think of a couple of other books in the last few years that also had "mad" heroes, but the author didn't follow through. I wonder why - it seems like readers who are attracted to this kind of story are the kinds of readers who want emotional intensity, not yet another murder mystery or endless pages of sex scenes - but the authors keep throwing the other stuff in there instead of really following through with the angst. Come on, authors, give us what we want! (A selfish demand, I know, but what can I say, I'm a demanding reader! :->)
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
My New TBR Pile (Much Smaller!)
About six months ago, I decided I needed to significantly downsize my TBR pile. I had a lot of books that I had gotten at book signings, from sales tables, romance conferences, etc., that I realized I would never read. I'd bought many of them 10-15 years ago, when my reading tastes were different. So, I ruthless pared down my TBR pile - I read back blurbs, skimmed the first couple of chapters, looked up comments and reviews on the internet. I managed to reduce my TBR to only 400 books!! I'm shocked to see how small my book collection is now.
I gave away some to my local library. They didn't want the older ones, so those went to the used bookstore and freecycle. A lucky reader on freecycle got 9 file boxes of books. I traded over 200 books on paperbackswap.
So now I have a somewhat realistic reading goal - to read all the books in my TBR. Of course, I keep buying new ones, so it shouldn't take me more than 10 years or so...
My Old TBR Pile
When I moved to Georgia in 2006, I took a picture of my TBR "pile". (It took up an entire walk-in closet.) At that time, I had about 1500 books, which is a reduction from my all-time high of about 2200.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
I've had Indigo on my "to be bought" list for many years, but I'd pretty much given up on ever finding it. (I set my best book finders on the case and even they came up empty.) But after I heard Beverly Jenkins speak at the Princeton romance conference a few weeks ago, I decided to splurge and buy it from Amazon, despite the price.
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
(1996, American) 5/11/09
Grade: 4
After escaping from slavery, Hester Wyatt has devoted her life to the Underground railroad. When the notorious Black Daniel is brought to her home, she finds him rude and arrogant, but she discovers there’s a lot more to him, whether he’s the Black Daniel or the wealthy Galen Vachon. Soon, her outlook on life begins to change, in unexpected ways.
Beverly Jenkins always brings amazing historical depth to her books, and this one begins with a lot of information about the Underground railroad (to the point that the first part of the book feels more like a history than a historical). But she also creates great characters, even though Hester and Galen sometimes seem too good to be true. But I can’t complain too much about a hero who adores the heroine and can’t stop admiring her. The biggest surprise, and disappointment, was that the romance was so predictable, despite the unusual setting. It was well done, but it seemed odd to read a book that’s set in the black community in 1859, and then have a romantic conflict that wouldn’t be out of place in a Regency. (He’s rich, she’s poor, will they ever accept her, yada yada yada.) I was also surprised that Hester accepted Galen’s wealthy lifestyle so easily, despite the sacrifices she made earlier in the book. Still, the book was very well written and compelling, even if it didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Indigo begins with two heartwrenching letters from Hester's father, who sold himself into slavery because of his love for her mother. That's hard to imagine, but it's based on a true story. It would be hard for any book to live up to such a beginning.
I will probably remember this book for a long time, just because of the unique background. When I finished, I wanted to know more about African American life in the North before the Civil War - something I know almost nothing about.
But it's hard to recommend a book that's only available in a very expensive print-on-demand edition. It doesn't seem to be widely available in libraries (I even struck out with interlibrary loan) and it's nearly impossible to find in its original Avon edition. I'm glad it's in print, but it's too bad that it's not more widely available at a more affordable price, because I think a lot of romance readers would enjoy it (and learn something too).
Indigo by Beverly Jenkins
(1996, American) 5/11/09
Grade: 4
After escaping from slavery, Hester Wyatt has devoted her life to the Underground railroad. When the notorious Black Daniel is brought to her home, she finds him rude and arrogant, but she discovers there’s a lot more to him, whether he’s the Black Daniel or the wealthy Galen Vachon. Soon, her outlook on life begins to change, in unexpected ways.
Beverly Jenkins always brings amazing historical depth to her books, and this one begins with a lot of information about the Underground railroad (to the point that the first part of the book feels more like a history than a historical). But she also creates great characters, even though Hester and Galen sometimes seem too good to be true. But I can’t complain too much about a hero who adores the heroine and can’t stop admiring her. The biggest surprise, and disappointment, was that the romance was so predictable, despite the unusual setting. It was well done, but it seemed odd to read a book that’s set in the black community in 1859, and then have a romantic conflict that wouldn’t be out of place in a Regency. (He’s rich, she’s poor, will they ever accept her, yada yada yada.) I was also surprised that Hester accepted Galen’s wealthy lifestyle so easily, despite the sacrifices she made earlier in the book. Still, the book was very well written and compelling, even if it didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Indigo begins with two heartwrenching letters from Hester's father, who sold himself into slavery because of his love for her mother. That's hard to imagine, but it's based on a true story. It would be hard for any book to live up to such a beginning.
I will probably remember this book for a long time, just because of the unique background. When I finished, I wanted to know more about African American life in the North before the Civil War - something I know almost nothing about.
But it's hard to recommend a book that's only available in a very expensive print-on-demand edition. It doesn't seem to be widely available in libraries (I even struck out with interlibrary loan) and it's nearly impossible to find in its original Avon edition. I'm glad it's in print, but it's too bad that it's not more widely available at a more affordable price, because I think a lot of romance readers would enjoy it (and learn something too).
Monday, May 04, 2009
The Things We Do For Love by Margot Early
The Keeper by Margot Early is one of my favorite series romances of all time. It's serious, but it's also a wonderful love story - I have read it at least a dozen times. Unfortunately for me, Margot Early likes writing books about babies and pregnancy, which I don't really like. I've tried a few of them, but even a good writer can't make me enjoy the subject. But whenever I see a book by Early that's not a baby book, I grab it, hoping to find another book as good as The Keeper. Unfortunately, this one wasn't it.
The Things We Do For Love by Margot Early (HSR 1546)
(2009, Contemporary Series) 5/4/09
Grade: 3
Mary Anne has had a crush on reporter Jonathan Hale for years, and when she finds out he's engaged, she decides to make a last ditch effort, and buys a love potion. But the potion ends up in the wrong glass, and is drunk by Graham Corbett, a rude and annoying radio psychologist that Mary Anne tries hard to avoid. But suddenly Graham is paying attention to her - and maybe she'll discover there's more to him than she thinks.
This was a hard book to grade. There were pieces of it that I really liked, but that was also the major problem with the book – the pieces just didn’t come together in a cohesive whole. I really liked the hero and heroine, and enjoyed the story of how Mary Anne discovered that Graham was the right man for her. But the story of Mary Anne’s dysfunctional family could have filled a 400 page book by itself. Graham’s issues with his late wife’s death were also too big for the small space they were given. And then there were the secondary characters, not to mention the silly love potion, which got way too much attention. (It was cute as a setup, but I got tired of hearing about it) The book felt like a car that couldn’t quite get into gear – it moved along in fits and starts, and although it finally reached the finish line, it never really got going. Too bad.
One thing I appreciated about this book was the West Virginia setting. Even though it's set in small town West Virginia, it's more than an Appalachian stereotype - all kinds of people live there. As a West Virginia girl myself (I spent summers there as a child and still have lots of relatives there), I'm glad to see a book set in WVa that's not a bunch of redneck cliches.
The Things We Do For Love by Margot Early (HSR 1546)
(2009, Contemporary Series) 5/4/09
Grade: 3
Mary Anne has had a crush on reporter Jonathan Hale for years, and when she finds out he's engaged, she decides to make a last ditch effort, and buys a love potion. But the potion ends up in the wrong glass, and is drunk by Graham Corbett, a rude and annoying radio psychologist that Mary Anne tries hard to avoid. But suddenly Graham is paying attention to her - and maybe she'll discover there's more to him than she thinks.
This was a hard book to grade. There were pieces of it that I really liked, but that was also the major problem with the book – the pieces just didn’t come together in a cohesive whole. I really liked the hero and heroine, and enjoyed the story of how Mary Anne discovered that Graham was the right man for her. But the story of Mary Anne’s dysfunctional family could have filled a 400 page book by itself. Graham’s issues with his late wife’s death were also too big for the small space they were given. And then there were the secondary characters, not to mention the silly love potion, which got way too much attention. (It was cute as a setup, but I got tired of hearing about it) The book felt like a car that couldn’t quite get into gear – it moved along in fits and starts, and although it finally reached the finish line, it never really got going. Too bad.
One thing I appreciated about this book was the West Virginia setting. Even though it's set in small town West Virginia, it's more than an Appalachian stereotype - all kinds of people live there. As a West Virginia girl myself (I spent summers there as a child and still have lots of relatives there), I'm glad to see a book set in WVa that's not a bunch of redneck cliches.
Friday, May 01, 2009
Beyond Heaving Bosoms by Wendell and Tan
Although this isn't exactly a romance novel, it's close enough, so I think it belongs on my blog.
Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches Guide to Romance Novels
by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan
(2009, Non-Fiction) 4/30/09
Grade: 4.5
Overall, this book was great fun. Although there were some dull sections, overall it kept me laughing, and reminded me of why I love romance. The snarky attitude of the authors worked perfectly to explain why even the most devoted romance lover has to sometimes roll her eyes when she comes across "that book".
The one thing that I found surprising about this book was the emphasis on the "Old Skool" romance. I started reading romance in the mid-80's, and my first romance novel was Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss. (Given to me by my grandmother!) So I know all about the Old Skool romance, and have a certain fondness for a few of those books. But I haven't read one in almost two decades, and I don't think any romance readers think about them much any more. You have to talk about them to understand the history of romance, but it just seemed like too much time was spent discussing a type of romance that hasn't been published in 20 years. I realize that the outside world still thinks of romance as "the bodice ripper", but I wanted to read more about the books that turned me into a romance believer, not the rape fests of the 70's and early 80's. (And I think the audience for this book will mostly be romance readers, not skeptics who can't get past the bodice ripper image.)
Still, this book is completely unique, and it was worth every penny. But it won't be going on my keeper shelf next to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women.
Beyond Heaving Bosoms: The Smart Bitches Guide to Romance Novels
by Sarah Wendell and Candy Tan
(2009, Non-Fiction) 4/30/09
Grade: 4.5
Overall, this book was great fun. Although there were some dull sections, overall it kept me laughing, and reminded me of why I love romance. The snarky attitude of the authors worked perfectly to explain why even the most devoted romance lover has to sometimes roll her eyes when she comes across "that book".
The one thing that I found surprising about this book was the emphasis on the "Old Skool" romance. I started reading romance in the mid-80's, and my first romance novel was Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen Woodiwiss. (Given to me by my grandmother!) So I know all about the Old Skool romance, and have a certain fondness for a few of those books. But I haven't read one in almost two decades, and I don't think any romance readers think about them much any more. You have to talk about them to understand the history of romance, but it just seemed like too much time was spent discussing a type of romance that hasn't been published in 20 years. I realize that the outside world still thinks of romance as "the bodice ripper", but I wanted to read more about the books that turned me into a romance believer, not the rape fests of the 70's and early 80's. (And I think the audience for this book will mostly be romance readers, not skeptics who can't get past the bodice ripper image.)
Still, this book is completely unique, and it was worth every penny. But it won't be going on my keeper shelf next to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women.
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