Nicole Helm's Blog, page 14
June 15, 2012
Friday Reads: Enemies to Lovers
Yesterday, my CP asked for some enemies-to-lovers book recommendations. At first, I was like, eh, I don’t read a lot of those types of books. Then, I looked through my Kindle. Wait! I do, actually, and some are quite good.
So, for this Friday Reads, here are my enemies to lovers recommendations:
One Good Reason and Her Best Worst Mistake by Sarah Mayberry, the latter being an exceptional example of this trope.
Nora Roberts has an old one from her category days I still love from her Macgregor Brides book, Julia’s story.
What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Julie James’ Practice Makes Perfect & Something About You
Filed under: Friday Reads
June 13, 2012
What I’m Up To: Sisters
I’m currently working on two manuscripts, which is a little unusual for me. I don’t usually split my focus, but it’s working for now.
One manuscript features a heroine who has a brother, the other a hero with a brother. Their matches in both are only children. It got me thinking about sisters because the thing is, I have two sisters and no brothers and yet thinking back through all my manuscripts I can only think of one (my first) where the heroine only had sisters.
Sure, poor Doug in ALL’S FAIR is saddled with four sisters, but his y-chromosone is still there, hanging out in all that estrogen. Another manuscript features a heroine with only a half-sister, but also a male cousin who is like a brother to her.
The truth is, I am endlessly fascinated by brothers. I was pretty desperate for my youngest sister to be a boy. I even remember when my Dad picked me and my other sister up from school the day littlest sister was born. He said, guess if its a boy or a girl. “Boy?”I asked hopefully. No such luck, but I guess it wouldn’t be quite as fun convincing a boy he was Elvis reincarnated as it was convincing littlest sister.
Now that I have two boys, I doubt my interest in brothers will change. I love watching them interact now and the baby doesn’t even do anything but smile and watch.
Filed under: All's Fair in Love and Politics, writing
June 11, 2012
Hero Pet Peeve
I’ve been doing a lot of reading the past few months, and there is a hero trait that is getting increasingly on my nerves: over protectiveness.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I like a protective hero. One who cares about the heroine, or others in the book. Who stands up for the people he cares about. I appreciate a man with a protective instinct.
However…
Overprotective heroes cross a line. I get bothered by a hero who thinks the heroine wont be able to STAY ALIVE without his supervision. To me, that’s not romantic. It’s disrespectful and arrogant. I suppose it’s one thing if the heroine is being chased by criminals and a top FBI Agent wants to keep her in sight, but a normal guy and girl in a contemporary romance? Is that supposed to be appealing? I prefer a hero to think the heroine is at least moderately capable of getting through life on her own wits/merit.
Filed under: romance
June 8, 2012
Friday Reads: Tearjerker
This week I read one of the most heart-wrenching romances I’ve ever read. Not only that, but this great book took tropes that usually make me uncomfortable or roll my eyes and made them realistic and poignant.
Karina Bliss’s Bring Him Home is a book I will hand to people when they tell me romance is trashy. There is nothing remotely superficial about this book. I cried through the whole thing, and while I often feel military guilt is a crutch authors use to keep hero and heroine apart, here it is portrayed with such delicacy, such honesty, it never feels fake or forced.
I cannot say enough positive things about this book. It blew me away, hollowed me out and made me appreciate what I have like all great books should.
Filed under: Friday Reads
June 7, 2012
Tears & Laughter
This week I read one of the most heart-wrenching romances I’ve ever read. Not only that, but this great book took tropes that usually make me uncomfortable or roll my eyes and made them realistic and poignant.
Karina Bliss’s Bring Him Home is a book I will hand to people when they tell me romance is trashy. There is nothing remotely superficial about this book. I cried through the whole thing, and while I often feel military guilt is a crutch authors use to keep hero and heroine apart, here it is portrayed with such delicacy, such honesty, it never feels fake or forced.
I cannot say enough positive things about this book. It blew me away, hollowed me out and made me appreciate what I have like all great books should.
Filed under: Friday Reads
June 6, 2012
Wednesday What I’m Up To: Revisions!
This past week I’ve been working on a requested revision for a manuscript I wrote last summer. I actually like revisions. Even though it’s complicated, I find it less daunting than writing a whole new story. It’s more exciting because the product is finished, you’re just doing some surgery. And requested revisions are always better than outright rejection.
One thing I do not like is writing a synopsis. I never feel like my voice is shining through in a synopsis. But, synopses are part of the biz, so I keep writing them hoping to get better at it.
Filed under: publishing, writing
June 4, 2012
Small Town Romance
When I was a kid, we moved around a lot. The only places in my life that, essentially, didn’t change were my grandparent’s houses. One in small town Iowa and one on an antique airport in rural Iowa.
If Grandparents aren’t magic enough, these places were magic for me because they were steady constants, and unlike everything else. So often these places, stories and people inspire something in my writing.
Filed under: life, writing
May 30, 2012
What I’m Up To: Focus
Sometimes, in the course of writing you have to wait a long time to hear nothing but “no thanks.” And sometimes, that can kind of knock you on your butt.
But sometimes, it does the opposite. Intead of kicking the feet out from under you it makes you steadier, more determined. Sometimes that disappointment can help you focus.
I do best when I have a plan. I keep thinking I don’t. Keep thinking plans always get derailed, and they do, but before they head off in another direction, I feel stronger, more dedicated, and work more efficiently when I have a plan.
So, after waiting a month longer than expected only to hear no, I’m starting my writing year over. I have a plan. It might get derailed, but that’s okay. I can adjust.
I will not let waiting udermine me again. New WIP, new business plan, “new” year
Thank God I started drinking coffee.
Filed under: writing
May 25, 2012
What I’m Reading
I’ve continued to be on a roll in the reading department, breezing through three more books (probably four by the time this post goes live).
1. No Sweeter Love by Tina Vaughn. Tina and I were once briefly CPs, and I continue to admire her way with words. This was a short read with lots of great turns of phrase.
2. Unfinished Business by Nora Roberts is an old Nora I’d never read and was on sale for .99 at some point. Not one of my favorites. The conflict was weird. Not deep enough, kind of flimsy. And I didn’t love the heroine.
3. Lucky in Love by Jill Shalvis. The Lucky Harbor series continues to be one I enjoy and Shalvis perrenially earns a 4 or 5 star rating for me. This book was no different, and I’ve preordered the next two. Wish they were already out!
Currently, I’m reading Ride With Me by Ruthie Knox. Not very far in, but the characters are already very vivid in my head. I love that she uses their bikes to show their different personalities.
Filed under: Friday Reads
May 23, 2012
Wed: what I’m up to
It’s 4:18 am Wednesday morning and, sadly, I am awake. Even sadder, this is not the first time this week I’ve been awakened prior to 4am.
The baby’s diaper has been changed, he’s eaten his bottle, and now he lays on my chest in a half sleep–not deep enough to lie down.
It’s 4:24 am. My lucky numbers. Except I’m awake, so it doesn’t feel all that lucky right now.
What am I up to? Running a little on empty, not really sure where to refuel.
Filed under: life
