UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish’s Comments (group member since Feb 24, 2010)

UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish’s comments from the Happily Ever After Cafe group.

What exactly is an anti-romance?

Lisa Kay’s Questions for Laura’s Big Break “Buddy Read”: Prologue – Chapter 4

1. I did laugh, and I loved that she didn't just call him on it, she soaked him on it!

2. I've actually heard authors, who were or are journalists, talk about their editor boss who was exactly like that. I'm too soft, I couldn't handle being treated that way. And, morally, I wouldn't have it in me to use and mislead the people I would be interviewing.

3. Charlie doesn't seem the doctor type to me, but as the story progressed, I could see why that line of work is perfect for him.

4. I love their nick names! Not sure I bought the blackmail, though, given how much animosity there was between them.

5. Yeah, it bothered be when he left her. But the thing is, she wasn't jealous because at that point, she didn't have feelings for him.

6. I think this became a war of sorts, and the sabotaging of the bike was just a small battle. I was pretty sure Laura would have another battle, a battle of conscience. And she did.

7. I thought that scene was sweet. I always laughed when Charlie would panic and stick his foot in his mouth.

8. Well, given I've not read any of those authors, I can't speak to her comparisons or influences. I have to say, though, as much as I enjoyed the story, in my opinion, the dialogs felt forced. Manipulated.

9. Oh, she was definitely playing with fire! Lusty wench!

10. I think that, overall, the interview was very poignant. I think you're asking about only the questions up to this point, but I can't separate them, having read the whole story already. Cute bargain, though!

11. Depends on who you ask!

12. Yes, I always thought she would. And it turned out she did.

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Lisa Kay’s Questions for Laura’s Big Break “Buddy Read”: Chapter 5 – Chapter 8

13. I thought this was super cute, and very funny. AND HOT! Loved the way Laura blamed Charlie for what was happening!

14. I have a lot of experience with trying to please my parents, and so for me, that was a very sad scene. I hated that she caved so easily to their demands and whims.

15. I thought arranging the cooking class was super sweet of him, and turned out to be a turning point in their relationship!

16. I thought that scene ended a bit abruptly. For as hot and heavy as they were going at it, they could have ‘ended’ things to both their satisfaction, in other ways.

17. Wll, I go into all stories expecting a solid HEA, so that’s what I anticipated for Charlie and Laura, and that’s what we got.

18. I dn’t see Charlie as a coward at all. I see him as someone who got more than he bargained for, but when the chips were down, he came through. It’s refreshing to see a hero who’s able to say, “this isn’t for me” and still make something meaningful of his life.

19. I thought it was sweet, but becoming a doctor is so much work, that I didn’t buy that she had that much influence on his decision.

20. I don’t blame Charlie for being mad, and his reasoning things out later proved my point. And I still can’t blame him for feeling angry though.

21. This was a shorter story, so realistic often takes a back seat in cases like this. I did think it was cute, though.

22. I’m not remembering this specifically.

23. Again, not sure what this is referring to.

24. I do remember this, and I thought, for his part, it was a defense mechanism. Attack to protect yourself.

25. I thought that was a bit extreme, but very funny. If it were a real life thing, I’d think Laura was horribly immature.

26. The English teens are a hoot!

27. I thought this was a very poignant scene. His concern that he’d gone too far, that he’d broken her… I was glad to see he could have that depth of compassion and concern for her. Up to that point, I wasn’t really sure he’d be able to be the kind of hero I’d want for ANY heroine.

Lisa Kay’s Questions for Laura’s Big Break “Buddy Read”: Chapter 9 – Epilogue

28. Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41. ;)

29. Laura and Charlie didn’t communicate well, and this was frustrating to me. Ultimately, I loved that he took her need to be in control as a challenge to see how far he could push her.

30. Yeah, I couldn’t help but fantasize about his thigh muscles. Biking for one is hard enough, but two? Holy hell!

31. Sadly, for me this goes back to the length of the book and the need to get to the juicy stuff. It felt rushed and like the author needed a way to get to the good stuff.

32. Well, it was bound to happen at some point in the book, right? LOL! But it kind of bothered me how uneventful their goodbye was, when Laura left to return home.

33. Yes, everyone should let go and lose control once in awhile.

34. Hated it. It made me question if there were true feelings between them.

35. Not surprised that Charlie went to Bolivia. I had the feeling that he’d want to do more with his life than just butterfly here and there.

36. I never, not for a minute, thought she’d turn in the article.

37. Loved this! Laura was learning to live for herself, not for everyone else’s needs.

38. I loved the scene with Laura hanging on the fence. Realistically, yeah, she was hanging there too long, but for the story, I thought it was funny. Loved that she kicked Big Mike.

39. I thought that was kind of funny, kind of sweet. I felt like Charlie’s realization that he loved her too was too quickly. Again, a casualty of shorter stories.

40. I loved the proposal! Left her hanging there til she agreed? Hell yeah!

41. Yes, I enjoyed the epilogue!

42. I’m giving this a 3.5 star rating. Had this been full length novel I think it would have worked well, but the relationship was just too rushed for my taste. There was so much for them to work through, individually and as a couple, and there just wasn’t enough time to do it all and make it work. For me.

Man, these two make me want to rip my hair out!! LOL!

This is really good. I'm so glad I'm reading it!

Kari wrote: "Nope, the second one is Caroline's story called "Goody Two Shoes", due later this year :)."

Oh, that should be good! I hope Rainne and Alistair get a story!

Kari wrote: "I loved that one too, Dhes. Betty was hilarious! I'm looking forward to the next ones in the series :D!"

Me too! Will it be Rainne??

Lisa Kay wrote: "Oh, yes. That one looks soooooooooo good. LOL!"

One of my favorite CRs this year. Maybe ven the past couple years!

was a hoot! There was this old, crotchety woman, loved her! In my review I said that I want to be just like her when I grow up! :). I'm loving this book, so far!

Holland or bust!!

I'm not very far in, behind as always, but I have to say; I really enjoy the way Ms. Henderson tells a story. Her characters are quirky and the stories are funny.

That's good to know! If I ever get caught up with reviews, I'll start that series!

I'm reading and enjoying it!

I haven't read any of those, Virginia, but I do have the most recent one. I'm so anal about reading in order!

Sandra (S. D. Taylor) wrote: "Glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty...All in the site of the beholder. That is one awesome video...loved it...thanks, Dhestiny."

Leslie wrote: "Wow, that was cool. ^_^"

You're welcome!

You're welcome, ladies!

Lisa Kay, I had the same reaction; I got all teary eyed. Maybe because it goes from so cynical to so optimistic by just changing the way we look at things?

Check this out!

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward. This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward. Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning is the exact opposite.

Please listen closely and read along. This is awesome!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=...

Thanks, Lisa Kay!

And we all know where your mind spends much of its time. ;)

Lisa Kay wrote: "They worked for me, Dhes."

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know!

Oh, I enjoyed this one!! Light, fun, romantic...

I have a kindle and an iPad with a kindle app, and I just download the books then email them to myself. I'm not using any kind of Smashwords app. Didn't even know one exists!

I hope you feel better soon!