True Love 101 discussion
Chit Chat
>
What are you reading?
Wendy F wrote: "I've eyed that series before and wasn't all to interested. I don't know why I hesitate to read Nalini Singh."I've hesitated too and not sure why, Wendy.
Stacia (beta male hunter) wrote: "I don't mind cheating in books. I've cheated in relationships and been cheated on. Things happen and that's real life. It's when people keep cheating in books and hide the truth forever that I star..."I was coming on here to say the same thing (except about Gio since I haven't read it yet). I have made bad choices, or maybe made choices in bad situations and had the same happen to me so I am actually interested in reading about bad choices and how people evolve from them. And sometimes evolution takes awhile. ;) At least in my experience! Sometimes people start out in a relationship and it means different things to each person also. I love books that examine those gray areas. But I am an odd ball, I don't like reading romances for the HEAs. :) If I read romances with HEAs it is because I love how the author writes, the world, the characters or the sex scenes. One of my favorite examinations of cheating was done by Megan Hart (of course!)
Tellulah wrote: "Wendy F wrote: "I've eyed that series before and wasn't all to interested. I don't know why I hesitate to read Nalini Singh."I've hesitated too and not sure why, Wendy."
I wasn't a fan of Angels' Blood either, but people keep saying that Psy-Changeling is better, so it's one I might try someday. Again with the long series though. It's so hard for me to want to start super long series with there being so much to read.
I read
off NG. Love the idea of dirty magic, really enjoyed the mythology and world building. But kept getting distracted by two things: 1) the protagonist's name was Kate and her personality made me think of a poor man's Kate from the Ilona Andrews magic series which I love. 2) I found the "I am a hero and on the side of good" to be distractingly heavy-handed.
At first I thought the book was "Dirty Mag." I was wondering if it was supposed to be a cheeky title.
D.G. wrote: "I just finished 
, which I liked some parts but the heroine drove me bunkers. I'm not sure I want to read 
so can I skip to [bookcover:Hector|1613969..."I enjoyed reading Gio. I don't like cheating but thought the author wrote about it realistically. I did enjoy Hector and Abel a lot more though.
D.G. wrote: "I love Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series but I'm not too crazy about anything else I've read by her. Her style is very luscious - which I think suits the Psy-Changeling - but it seems weird to m..."Ditto! I love the Psy-Changeling series but did find that her UF series comes up short compared to other really good UFs.
I'm still working my way through
. The weekend was busy so I'm only about 40%. It is definitely full of a lot of smut.
Kay wrote: "I'm still working my way through . The weekend was busy so I'm only about 40%. It is definitely full of a lot of smut."I liked it.
Okay changed my mind... going to read
I will definitely have more to comment about Beyond Shame tomorrow. Can't wait to discuss it, even if it's late.Finished
and I am so happy right now. So, so, so happy. I just love this series. I want to force people to read it because I get happier and happier with each new story. This is one of the few series where there's a great addition with the short stories. I rated the one before this 5 stars and everyone knows I give out 5 star ratings once every blue moon; they're so very rare for me. Seriously. I love Sang. I love bludbunnies. I love the sexual chemistry. I love knife-throwing carnies. I loved it all.
And Ian, I borrowed your holy grail reference here. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I hope you don't mind.
Gah. I had to add this...Any book that can have this scene :
"You want to let go. You want to drop your hands. You want to turn around and feel my tongue in your mouth, moving in time with my finger. You want to press against me, feel your nipples rubbing against the corset, against my chest. But you can't. You can't move."
and this scene :
"One time in Freesia," she began," we were beset by a peacock and a unicorn - they work together, you know. As the men fought the unicorn, the peacock went for me. Although I'd heard their beaks were razor-sharp, I didn't quite believe it until he was licking the blood from my arm with his black tongue."
"What happened next?"
"I beat him to death with my umbrella and put his tail feathers in my hat."
...in the same story = win.
In romances, I'm more black and white. I don't like characters that make the same mistake over and over during the whole book and "learn" at the end. I like to see characters dealing with their new circumstances and accepting the consequences of their mistakes. Too often, it's portrayed that the most difficult part is deciding to do something when in fact, the most difficult part is living with it. I'm also always shocked at how many cowards are in romance. Maybe because I've always been pretty willing to try relationships and have never needed a document in triplicate outlining the guy's good intentions, I lose patience with characters who are not willing to take a chance and risk their heart. I don't mean that a person should just jump without thinking to every relationship and I understand being hesitant at the beginning, but after a while, you have to decide what you want. The back and forth usually drives me bunkers.
Definitely about living with it. And that is why I love books that explore that aspect. For example frank in Outlander - I thought DG did a great job showing how it affected him (although we know he cheated but just bc you cheat doesn't mean it still can't hurt).
D.G. wrote: "I'm also always shocked at how many cowards are in romance..."What about the people who can't seem to figure out that it's okay to date without giving your life away? People in real life date casually all of the time. I don't know why in romance books, most women seem to think that if they say yes to a date, they're saying yes to some sort of bigger picture, so they hesitate and make excuses.
FFS. It's the year 2014. Saying yes to a date does not mean saying yes to a deeper commitment right away. What happened to going out there and seeing where things go? Worst case, it sucks and you move on.
But oh no. People are "afraid" that they might get attached, so they say no.
That annoys me about as much as any book where a single mom won't date out of fear that they're going to harm their child. Cut the damn cord, women. It's possible to go on a date and leave your child out of the equation. No one said you had to bring the guy back to your place to emotionally scar the kids while they listen to you get it on. I've said it over and over : if a single mom in a book is going to give an excuse for why they can't go on a date, the only one I want to see as a viable excuse is the one real excuse - Sorry, I can't get a sitter.
Common sense. It's just not that common in books sometimes.
That is my frustration with HEA, I so prefer happy for now endings.
I actually hate most epilogues with weddings or babies involved. I don't think we as the reader need to know about the characters that far down the road. I just want to see the couple get together and be happy with that.
Exactly -- unless it is a true part of the story but there are exceptions to that (Outlander for example).This is one of the reasons I so love Cara McKenna
Stacia (beta male hunter) wrote: "What about the people who can't seem to figure out that it's okay to date without giving your life away? People in real life date casually all of the time. I don't know why in romance books, most women seem to think that if they say yes to a date, they're saying yes to some sort of bigger picture, so they hesitate and make excuses."
That is EXACTLY what I mean, Stacia. I'm tired in romance where the woman needs to know if 'the guy is looking for a deep commitment' before even considering going out with him for the first time. WTH? Why can you just go out and see where it goes? If you find yourself going out only with guys that are looking for Ms. Right, then maybe you are shutting out guys who might change their mind once they get to know you! And what happens if YOU don't like the guy? Because if you start picking china patterns with all guys you date, then there's something wrong with you.
I love both, HEA and Happily For Now but do like some reality with all of it. I can't stand reading about stupid women...just like Stacia said that common sense isn't always there in books. I finished reading
and thought it was a good start. It might have been a little too much sex for me...I had to skim over some scenes. The world was interesting but I would have liked to learn more about it.
I don't like epilogues with babies, proposals or weddings either.
Stacia (beta male hunter) wrote: "I actually hate most epilogues with weddings or babies involved. I don't think we as the reader need to know about the characters that far down the road. I just want to see the couple get together ..."It depends for me. I recently read a book where the hero had lost his wife and child, and it was nice to see him in the epilogue with that again. I liked knowing he had found some peace with his past.
I also recently read a book that was a five star read for me until the epilogue. I had to drop a star because it just tied everything up way too nicely and it just didn't work with the story IMO. It was like the hero in the rest of the story was a different man from the hero in the epilogue.
Not every story needs an epilogue. Sometimes the end just needs to be the end. And I'm finding more and more that I like the HFN's better than the HEA's.
To me a good epilogue, is short (maybe a few pages) and features the main characters of the story but in a situation unrelated to the story. I kind of think it should be a mini-story. So having the husband racing to the hospital while the wife is in labor is OK with me, as is a wedding...but there needs to be drama.Some epilogues are really kind of dull...just describing their perfect wedding or the couple eating potato salad while the kids play in the yard. I just think "why bother?" when I read that.
Anyone have a dollar tree by them, check out their book selections. I got lucky and got this for a buck
They also have books by Hamilton, L. The Anita Blake series
I just finished Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield. She is an amazing writer. It's a part of a series and I was dreading the inevitable cliff hanger ending you see in so many books like this. No cliffhanger!!! I was so happy I could have jumped.Started something a little lighter...Enchantd Inc. by Shanna Swendson. It's pretty good fun...very light and fluffy which is where I want to be.
Am also reading Carousel Sun which I requested for no other reason than it had a chicken on the cover...no wolf, no lion, no owl or raven...yes a chicken.
There is some strange speech patterns which I'm struggling with and I wonder if that's how folks who live in Maine speak. And then there is the whole carnie thing going on which is just creepy. I'm pretty sure carnies are just clowns in civvies.
I love Sophie Littlefield and Aftertime was the first I read by her. I loved that series so much.
Ian wrote: "I just finished Aftertime by Sophie Littlefield. She is an amazing writer. It's a part of a series and I was dreading the inevitable cliff hanger ending you see in so many books like this. No cli..."I'm so glad you like Aftertime, it's a fantastic series.
Finished up Disillusionist trilogy with
Liked the series less and less as it went along because I feel like it devolved from the fun of the premise into a love triangle. I didn't care as much about that.
Stacia, thanks for your POV on the Joey W. Hill Natural Law book. It's been awhile since I've read it, and now that I read your spoiler, I remember feeling like you did. It would be interesting to have a man's POV, too. Ian, are you reading it?Started into Suzanne Brockmann's
- I just love her take on SEAL alpha men, although the 80s-90s era books make me giggle a bit.
Annie wrote: "Anyone have a dollar tree by them, check out their book selections. I got lucky and got this for a buck
They also have books by Hamilton, L. The Anita Blak..."
We have a Dollar Tree right next door to our library! Between the 2, I'm like a bug drawn to the "light"!
I read Sophie Littlefield's "Bad Day For..." series - I think Regina got me into it? Haven't read any of her other books; sounds like I should take a look.
I need to read a book by Sophie Littlefield.Lately I'm only listening to audio during the week - the commute to my new job is weird. The train ride is 30 minutes but I have to walk between 20-25 minutes to get to my work - it's not far but it's VERY crowded (construction + commuters + tourists don't make a good convo.)
Right now I'm listening to At Bertram's Hotel, not the best among AC's books. After this one, not sure what I'll listen.
Kay wrote: "I love both, HEA and Happily For Now but do like some reality with all of it. I can't stand reading about stupid women...just like Stacia said that common sense isn't always there in books. I fin..."
There is a lot of sex but I liked that it was a little different.
I think like book 7 in the Natural Law series has a male POV - its really weird though; and book 6 is a m/m romance
I made some progress in
and i'm about 60% into it and I really like all the world building. I have a question about this series, it's a trilogy but I thought there were more books than that. Is there a continuation of the series?
Does that series wrap up with the third book? Thanks :)
Lee they are not connected. Those are separate series but written around a similar time. I never read on in the pretty when series and I never read a tale of a vampire bride - even though I own them!
Leea, I read the first two books of the Pretty When She...series. I don't know if it's just a trilogy or not but I really enjoyed it when I read it. I also read the 2 Vampire Bride books and I liked those too. It had a historical gothic feeling which I found to be really intriguing and dark.
Sorry when I said similar time -- I meant Frater wrote them and published them around a similar time - not the time the books were set.
They were published around the same time b/c I read Pretty When She... and the Vampire Bride one after another. I still need to read The First Days.
I loved The First days... It's a must read.Finished Pretty When She Dies and I loved all the gore and blood. ha!!
Not sure what to read next, I kind of what a good historical or maybe a Historical western.
Each on of my boys is bringing a friend home to play, it's a minimum day so I wont get any more reading in today. Yikes!
Leea wrote: "I kind of what a good historical or maybe a Historical western. "Have you read The Dukes Tattoo by Miranda Davis? I don't read very much historical but I really enjoyed that one.
Sounds like fun Leea. Or stressful. Or both.Sorry I'm way behind the fact and didn't really buddy on the buddy read, so I don't even know where to go to chat about Beyond Shame. I'll just comment here. About 60% in and I'm actually liking the book, even with the excessive sex scenes (sort of a blessing and a curse. it's all hot, but I would have liked to have seen (view spoiler)). In a way, I'm disappointed that there isn't as much world building as I would have liked (we're sort of just told that the system is screwed up and that people are on the fringes), but what is present in the world are elements that I do like. I am digging on Jasper being a fighter and his character type is very appealing so far - protective, slightly possessive but still open minded, and he seems to have loyalty in spades to his gang and his girl.
This is one of those books where the line between erotic romance and porn-without-plot is blurred, and I really wish the book had picked a side of the line to stay on. I see more sex (or sexual tension) than plot, but when there is story or character building, there happens to be a depth that isn't in most pwp, even if the amount of of non-sexual interaction is not balanced.
I'll probably finish early this evening.
Stacia (beta male hunter) wrote: "Sounds like fun Leea. Or stressful. Or both.Sorry I'm way behind the fact and didn't really buddy on the buddy read, so I don't even know where to go to chat about Beyond Shame. I'll just comment..."
You'll see more extensive world-building and less sex in the 2nd and 3rd books, which are still hot, although book 2 had déjà vu love scenes.
Oh, and I started
and I'm in love. One of my friends told me to read it a while back and I really should have listened to her. I adore Nicholas/Viv. I adore that stereotypes are being bucked. I adore that Nicholas is comfortable in who he is as a cross-dresser, but he's still a sexy-as-hell man. I didn't think the author would be able to pull that off as well as it's been done.
Anna (Bobs Her Hair) wrote: "Stacia (beta male hunter) wrote: "Sounds like fun Leea. Or stressful. Or both.Sorry I'm way behind the fact and didn't really buddy on the buddy read, so I don't even know where to go to chat abo..."
That's good. I look forward to it.
I'll have more to say in a few hours after I finish.
Stacia (waiting on tomorrow) wrote: "Oh, and I started and I'm in love. One of my friends told me to read it a while back and I really should have listened to her. I adore Nicholas/Viv. I adore tha..."
That's one of my absolutely favourite books! I wish I could find more like it.
Ian wrote: "Leea wrote: "I kind of what a good historical or maybe a Historical western. "Have you read The Dukes Tattoo by Miranda Davis? I don't read very much historical but I really enjoyed that one.
[..."
Thanks Ian, I'll add it to the TBR list.
True Love 101
Books mentioned in this topic
Beechwood Harbor Magic Mysteries Boxed Set (other topics)Witches in the Kitchen (other topics)
A Good Day for Chardonnay (other topics)
Stinger (other topics)
Only When It's Us (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Mary Ann Rivers (other topics)Pamela Morsi (other topics)
Jessica Andersen (other topics)
Jessica Andersen (other topics)
Gabrielle Zevin (other topics)
More...
I didn't consider Soulless PNR so much, but I remember feeling like neither the paranormal elements or the steampunk elements were given enough consideration. I wanted more of the world itself to be expanded upon and there was a lot of needless conversation and happenings.
Probably my favorite Steampunk with a romance element is