Speaking of HTF books
October 31, 2006
This week I have found:
China Rose by Marsha Canham
A Promise of Spring by Mary Balogh
Give Me Tonight by Lisa Kleypas
all for a $1
pretty cool if you don’t think about the fact I don’t need any of them… and that kleypas is the ONE old Kleypas I have (due to a shockingly kind online romance fan who sent it to me)
But hey they were a DOLLAR! So I had to get them. Wasn’t as impressed with A Promise of Spring as I thought I would be. The hero is very unbaoghlike and mucho beta, almost too much, hell it was too much. I was waiting for him to pull the heroine by her hair and say what the fuck chick? Maybe if he had beaten her or something it would have knocked some sense. LOL maybe that is just me…
Where is Walt when you need him….
October 31, 2006
Dear Reader:
The novels you’ve enjoyed over the past ten years by such authors as Kathleen Woodiwiss, Rosemary Rogers, Johanna Lindsey and Laurie McBain are accountable to one thing above all others: Avon has never tried to force authors into any particular mold. Rather, Avon is a publisher that encourages individual talent and is always on the lookout for writers who will deliver real books, not packaged formulas.
In 1982, we started a program to help readers pick out authors of exceptional promise. Called “The Avon Romance,” the books were distinguished by a ribbon motif in the upper left-hand corner of the cover. Although every title was by a new author, and the settings could be either historical or contemporary, they were quickly discovered and became known as “the ribbon books.”
In 1984, “The Avon Romance” will be a feature on the Avon list. Each month, you will find novels with many different settings, each one by an author who is special. You will not find predictable characters, predictable plots and predictable endings. The only predictable thing about “The Avon Romance” will be the superior quality that Avon has always delivered in the field of romance!
Sincerely,
Walter Meade
President; Publisher
This letter is found on the first page of China Rose by Marsha Canham published in 1984 (that I found for a $1 the other day). I have to agree with walt here and it would be nice if they could find their way back to this. I don’t see why Avon can’t publish the 12000 Regency Historicals every month they feel we need and do one or two books in a line like “The Avon Romance”.
Does anyone remember these “ribbon” books? I would be interested in seeing who else was apart of the idea. LOL maybe the idea tanked and that is why Avon became all regency all the time.
What is this box with numbers on it and how does it work?
October 24, 2006
It scares me some times how alike cindys and I are, no really. It makes me shake my head and feel really really badly for her. And the rest of you guys that there are two of us running around in the world.
ten to one I just go read a book.
blerg
October 21, 2006
sick, sick, sick
You name it, it has prolly been wrong with me in the last five days. I haven’t been to work in four. Tried to twice, and they turned around and sent me home because I looked like death.
I am trying to drag myself in right now… oh and I start another job on monday. Long story.
I have over 300 emails to sort through. Ten to one if you have sent me on in the last week I owe you one.
The good news is I am not dying ;).
Liquid into Samhain
October 17, 2006
I think I have asked this before… maybe…
What’s up with all the liquid silver books being republished at samhain? Are they just being cleaned up editing wise and then printed? Do they have to sell a certain number to go to print or is it a sure thing?
And why didn’t LSB print them? Does LSB not do print?
But most importantly… does it say if the book is expanded and worth rebuying?
Devon Guest EBuzz: Mistress of Redemption by Joey Hill
October 16, 2006
Nature of Desire - Mistress of Redemption By Joey W. Hill
The white-collar life Jonathan Powell created for himself is gone. Standing outside Wentworth prison after serving his five-year sentence, he knows he has to start over. No more hooking up with Dominant women so he can enjoy the challenge of screwing up their minds. But who knew his last target would be a psychopathic killer who tried to off two cops? No, it wasn’t the game that was the problem. He just made some key mistakes. Mistakes he won’t make again.
Then Mistress Dona shows up to give him a ride from the prison into his new life, and his resolve goes out the window. She’s everything he can’t resist. Dona knows she has to help Jonathan make the right choice this time, because Hell doesn’t offer options. He has to understand and accept what surrender truly means. His only hope is a Mistress of Redemption. The problem is she may lose her own soul in the attempt to save his.
Reader Advisory: This book contains a very gritty and frank journey to Hell and contains many BDSM elements. Some of the situations and scenes may be disturbing to some readers. It is not for the faint of heart. Features Jonathan from Natural Law.
Devon can be found at her blog, Is that a stake in your pocket?
Devon’s Ebuzz
Mistress of Redemption by Joey Hill, is the author’s most recent installment in her “Nature of Desire” series, in which she explores BDSM and what draws people to it.
The hero of this book (and I use that term loosely), is Jonathan Powell, who previously appeared in Natural Law, and was mentioned in Holding All the Cards. Jonathan is an all-around bastard, and a sub who tops from the bottom. He manipulates his lovers into thinking that he cares about them, then destroys them emotionally.
He ends up in prison for his role in the attempted murder of Mac Nighthorse (the hero of Natural Law.) MoR picks up with his release after five years in prison. He is picked up by the mysterious Mistress Dona, who takes him to Hell and back.
Literally.
This is Jonathan’s journey through Hell, as Dona forces him to face his crimes, and hopefully cleanse his soul. Mistress Dona is not only Lucifer’s minion and Jonthan’s torturer, but also his soulmate. And she hopes that she can actually help him. But she’s going to have to make him suffer at first, but that’s cool, she’s into that too.
This was a fascinating read. Ellora’s Cave gave it the X-treme rating, and it is that. Not for the faint of heart. There was some rough stuff here. I winced a couple of times, and I’m pretty hardened. But it never came off as exploitative or unnecessary. It was more like a bizarre form of therapy to help Jonathan to face his crimes and understand his true self. But therein also lay the problem for me. There was some heavy psychological stuff here, and I found the exploration of what motivated both Jonathan and Dona to be very interesting, but not particularly erotic.
I was much more caught up in the psychological elements than the romantic ones. I was much more curious to read why Jonathan was so fucked up than in the HEA. I think the difficult subject matter required a certain amount of readerly distance, to make it more palatable. I was happy that they did find some happiness, though.
So, in short, this was a very compelling read, but not so much a romance for me. But one thing is undeniable, I think that Hill is one of the strongest, most intelligent writers of romantica that I have read. She has a great grasp of what makes her characters tick and of the strange hold of BDSM on some people. If you’re curious, try Natural Law. One’s got to build up to this one.
You can buy this here and find her other titles here. Thanks Devon!
Tags: Devon, Joey Hill, Mistress of RedemptionReview: The Inconvenient Duchess by Christine Merrill
October 16, 2006
The Inconvenient Duchess by Christine Merrill is a new to me HH author and even though it was a Regency novel I picked it up. Has anyone else read it? My copy is screwed up. Letters are missing at the end of some words and in places the end of sentences are gone. Really it isn’t enough to make the book unreadable but it is annoying.
Lady Miranda Grey was raised by a broken man who lost everything and a whore. Well by this point ex-whore, who blackmails a woman on her death bed (ex-school chum) into arranging a meeting between Miranda and soon to be dead woman’s sons. One of those sons just happens to be a Duke.
A Duke. You know the guy most of those marriage mart chits would happily open a vein to wed. Lady Miranda shows up at the house, alone, after walking in the rain with a letter of introduction from her guardian ‘Lady Cecily’ (you know the whore) only to find out that the mother is dead and the Duke of Haughleigh might as well be.
I mentioned the alone part right? So now she is stuck, alone, with two rakes (we know they are rakes cuz they tell us so). Whatever is a girl to do?
All in all this book should be F material but it works. Miranda does some pretty TSTL things for a woman who has ‘worked’, been exposed to real life and has a brain in her head. The Duke and Miranda spend too much time apart in the beginning so when he finds out the truth of her up bringing, really he has no reason to keep her. When you add in how he went about ‘marrying her’ it isn’t really believable he would care much about her.
And the little weasel St. John shouldn’t be around near as much as he is. The brother should have kept a better eye on him and Miranda’s background should have made it impossible for her to not see he was up to no good.
But I was entertained, kept turning the pages and wanted to know what happened next. Maybe it had to do with the fact that the plot wasn’t your typical regency. Or that the characters were charming and well fleshed out. Miranda isn’t your perfect, beautiful diamond and Marcus isn’t the over the top alpha or doormat beta. You have two people who have been dealt some shitty cards and are making the best play out of it they can.
I enjoyed The Inconvenient Duchess and would recommend it if you are in the mood for a quick Regency read. But if you are a hard case for following the ‘regency rules’ you prolly want to skip it. As for me, I really want to read the next book, An Unladylike Offer (St. John’s book).
You can read an excerpt here and another here.
Who Am I?
October 15, 2006
A book… not me… it is too early for any post that deep in thought *g*
More about the book found here and here.
I can’t believe it hasn’t been found… I am really thinking it is a mix of books but sadly it sounds soooooooo like a book I have read, I just don’t know.
this was posted at the Reader to Reader board by lgs and I KNOW I have read it but can’t figure it out.
The H & h marry in a marriage of convienance. Can’t remember the circumstances. She is clumsy & he is uptight. She comes to see him in his study & this irritates him. She gives him two big clumsy dogs. He does not like them because when he was a child, his father made him kill his dog because it got hurt or something. Anyway, she helps orphans & he does not like this at first because it is not seemly for a Lady to go to places like that. He follows her one day because he thinks she is cheating on him or something like that. And then he eats dinner with them all.Set in regency time.
WoOT!
October 15, 2006
I am a winner.
Go Team Me!
Ask Anne Stuart….
October 13, 2006
Hey did you guys know she is the author to question at RT this week?
and I don’t see one question from cindy or megan…
…
Ask me any questions you like - I’m notoriously unguarded. I’ve been in the business for centuries - my first book came out when I was twenty-five - and I’ve seen trends, publishers, imprints and editors come and go. Nothing short of dynamite can dislodge me, and I’m gleefully certain I’m writing some of the best stuff of my career. So ask me anything, and I’ll answer.
complete Anne Stuart intro here
what cha waiting for…
Times like this I decide I should say I want to be a writer when I grow up. No really, because that would some how make the voices in my head okay, right? What? It works for JR Ward and Linda Howard damn it! I say that with much love for both authors really, so no need to throw your fangirlself out of wack or anything.
YIKES this post was just suppose to say I was trying to fix my inner clock which is fucked as normal to try and make life easy with the new job. Working normal business hours sort of… 8-5. Monday - Friday and 9-1 some Saturdays… which I think will turn out to be lots of Saturdays because I don’t care and need the cash.
I was off last Wed, Thurs, Fri being sick sick sick. Worked Saturday like 2 to 2 and Sunday 3 to 2… only to be at the new nonhotel job on Monday at 8AM. So I ended up not sleeping at all Sunday night then came home only to fall asleep and wake up at midnight. Yep and have managed to do the same today. So I sit here looking at the clock knowing I should ‘try’ to go back to sleep. Thinking I could take something and go back to sleep but have to be up in six hours and can’t see taking that chance. Ten to one I end up reading or blog hopping.
I soooooooo want to talk about work and shit but can’t make up my mind where I shall decide that is good to do. LOL well it isn’t good to do anywhere but I know I will. I should go update my live journal. Or figure out how to lock posts here. Then I think about how silly that all is because dude… it is the internet. Which leads me to wanting to talk about the fuckedupness of stupid people, myspace, chatting at work and then I realize I would be doing exactly what I want to make fun of… sort of.
The new job could be a slow fry in hell. I know this and I am fighting like mad to keep my fucking mouth shut about things I know nothing about, even when asked my opinion. It is very much a ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ type of place. Where you are suppose to do something, ask for clarification and are told “oh, hmmm I don’t know, it has always been done like that’ and omg if you ask what it is used for - blank stare that makes you want to define use - to be answered ‘I am not really sure we just have always done it’. I know a big part of it is lazy and bigger part is something I tend to think is a lil more job protection, if no one really knows I work only an 1 hour out of my day score type thing.
Of course I could be wrong. And man we are talking people who have been here for YEARS. But then you just have to blink as you walk around and people are on myspace (clear as day) chatting away on AIM (clear as day) and huff when you tell them they have someone to help, then try to think of a way to chat with the person standing on the other side of the counter who can clearly hear the people chatting away about their weekend while they wait to be helped.
Sad thing is I will be making more money here than I was at the hotel. Which just leads me back to crap I need to figure out what the hell I am doing with my life or I will turn around in a year having killed it at job playing on the internet all day chatting with bam or jane or holly or I could go on a while here… while reading ebooks at work or something like that… ::blink:: See that sooooooooo has its appeal. LOL
I am having the normal pull at ‘omg I really need to get a life’. I am going to be 31, have no direction or goal driving me… I should do something. Go back to school. Sell my shit, pick a new state and move. Go run and hide in Kristie’s Library. SOMETHING. I mean really who am I to laugh or stare in wonder while I lurk through the remains of two years of files and crap on a computer from two people I don’t even know? But really WHO has a link to a ‘cheating’ discussion board in their favorites at work? WHO? Says she who at one time spent large parts of her day emailing and chatting with jay. Awww good times that… but of course jay has to fuck it up with getting her shit together and going to law school so she won’t be around to play with.
Then of course I start to think on books and blogs and what I could do with mine with the time… Things I can finish and such cuz I will be awake with mucho time to kill and will most likely have freedom of internet access and a computer in such a position that ctrl-alt-tab is your friend. Or there is the dive bar which is down the street (oddly enough I know I have been there once or twice but can’t remember clearly when or why). I could be Norm! Only younger, female and thin until the smoke, alcohol, bar food kill it. See life is nothing but a bunch of random choices ;).
Alcohol… whatever happened to the Barenaked Ladies?
Alcohol, a party-time necessity
Alchool, alternative to feeling like yourself
O Alcohol, I still drink to your health
I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol
Forget the caffe latte,
screw the raspberry iced tea
A Malibu and Coke for you, a G&T for me
Alcohol, Your songs resolve like
my life never will
When someone else is picking up the bill
I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol
O Alcohol, would you please forgive me?
For while I cannot love myself
I’ll use something else
I thought that Alcohol was just for those with
nothing else to do
I thought that drinking just to get drunk
was a waste of precious booze
But now I know that there’s a time
and there’s a place where I can choose
To walk the fine line between
self-control and self-abuse
I love you more than I did the week before
I discovered alcohol
Would you please ignore that you
found me on the floor
Trying on your camisole?
O Alcohol, would you please forgive me?
For while I cannot love myself
I’ll use something else
Would you please forgive me?
Would you please forgive me?
eh I so don’t see myself returning to bars cuz smoke and alcohol tend to fuck up my migraines and really random sex with strangers gets old quick and is hardly ever worth the effort. I could start dating but good night that would involve work and is hardly ever worth the effort. And would make my mother far too happy. LOL if I bothered to tell her that is…
I think I am turning in my notice tomorrow to my apartments. Sort of makes my flesh crawl in a omg what the fuck am I doing type way. But hey it will force me to make a choice by Jan. There is a crazy idea floating around in my head which involve a move to Dallas. Or at least decide to get a new apartment here or move home or something… I don’t want to be here. But I don’t want to pack. I just suck.
Then there are the books… eek! The way I quit at work I am ending up getting a week of vacation so hopefully I will have a lil bit of cash to get the piles sent off to people and send out more books. Then I need to get bins I think… and figure out uh something.