We Love Lisa Kleypas discussion
WLLK Buddy Reads
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Across a Moonlit Sea, by Marsha Canham
Melanie, I can’t kick
you
off the buddy read as I must confess that the first night I went ahead and
deliberately
read Chapter 4 b/c I could NOT stop with: (view spoiler) Man-oh-man, did you choose these breaks with sadistic intention? Chapter 7 ends a little better, but still… LOL! Maybe it is that the book is so damn good. I’m really enjoying it.
D.G. I concur! I like that Beau stands up to him and states her case with valid points and without all the gasping, huffing and puffing usually depicting the typical female indignation. (view spoiler)
i finally caught up with the reading!! yay!I have to admit that i was drowning through the epilogue,like the the ship in question! I have NO idea about ships!! i had to re-read to understand what was going on.. I hadnt felt this dumb in ages LOL!! how is that one can master in certain topics and fail so miserably at others??
but chapter one was the redeeming pt for me.. Im liking all the elements on this book. very good description of characters, situations, 3D characters,and quite accurate so far with the customs of Elizabethan era.(my favorite era in history). I have read very few romances set in this era,plus the pirate factor makes it a very good book!! :)
I naturally agree about H/h. with those temperaments they need to go hell and back, in order to make the story credible. (which i enjoy **grins**)
Melanie: why is that i knew that you wouldnt be able to stop? ;) xxxxxxxx
Autumn, I'm glad you caught up sweetie! Interesting, I sometimes flounder when the prologue is too long and, like you, have to re-read it. The Smoke Thief was a great ★★★★★ book, but I had to read the prologue twice as fantasy is not my forté . I think the author runs a risk when this is done as the reader could lose interest in the book all together. However, this one grabbed me and wouldn’t let go!Maybe it is because my older brother, who ruled the roost with regards to what we watched on TV, made me watch a lot of swashbucklers in my youth. LOL!
The prologue sets the tone for a fan friggin tastic ride. The strong way Simon reacted upon hearing Beau's snide remarks was understandable, due to long days of lack of food / water, mental & physical exhaustion plus he's still smarting from the betrayal. I thought it was the purrfect intro to their relationship. It just touches Simon's raw nerve when this green lad acts like a smartmouth & inadvertently opens a can of whoop@$$. Talk 'bout leaving an indelible impression, Beau certainly surprises Simon w/ her speedy hands.
Melanie, that's the typical danger of reading MC. U feel like U wanna whip thru' it & cast all your other life responsibilities to the wind 'till U reach the finish line. She knows how to make U feel immersed head to heels in the story. Trying to put it down is like stopping a King Kong stampede =^DMelanie wrote: "I was totally into the story. As a matter of fact (confession time), I totally forgot to stop at chapter 4:-( ***wails pitifully*** I'm sorry! I'm not used to interrupting a good book, and I just sailed through it without realizing! Well, I'm still doing the buddy read if no one throws me out, and I can keep to the chapters for the discussions:-) i>
I was a good girl & stopped where I was supposed to! ;) I admit I was very tempted to continue reading though & I'm doing a re-read!I enjoyed the desk scene from (chapters 4-7) & I love the bickering at the table between Simon & Beau, so funny!
I wish Simon & Beau would just go thru' w/ their luv connection right then & there on the desk. I have a weakness for hanky panky on furnitures / in a carriage. But I guess MC just wanted to stretch the tension further & gave us a taste of wot's to come LOL...
Verity wrote: "I wish Simon & Beau would just go thru' w/ their luv connection right then & there on the desk. I have a weakness for hanky panky on furnitures / in a carriage. But I guess MC just wanted to stretc..."So true!
Good point, Verity. I figured Simon was in pain, suffering from exhaustion, and had a F&E problem, but I didn't think of him looking at Beau as just a green lad smart-mouthing off.And I know what you and Christine S. are talking about b/c I went to Ms. Canham website looking for a possible prologue or first chapter preview that those w/o books could at least start on. I found something else entirely, you trollopes, you!
FYI that some of you may find boring; others, not so much: Virago , the name of Simon's ship, in Italian translates to termagant.
From Webster’s Dictionary definition of TERMAGANT:
1. capitalized: a deity erroneously ascribed to Islam by medieval European Christians and represented in early English drama as a violent characterFrom Wikipedia:
2. an overbearing or nagging woman: shrew
The origin of the name Termagant is unknown, and does not seem to derive from any actual aspect of Muslim belief or practice, however wildly distorted. W. W. Skeat in the 19th century speculated that the name was originally "Trivagante", meaning 'thrice wandering', a reference to the moon, because of the Islamic use of crescent moon imagery.Maybe something we can ask Ms. Canham about?
ooh- I love entymology (as long as that is the one about words, not bugs).From the concise Oxford English Dictionary:
Virago:(1) A domineering, violent or bad-tempered woman (2) (archaic) a woman of masculine strength or spirit
Origin: OE(used as the name given by Adam to Eve following the Vulgate) from L. 'heroic woman, female warrior' from vir 'man'.
There is also a well thought of women's book imprint called Virago.
Well, ships are always female, right? Sooooo...the
Virago
was yar - quick and agile; easy to hand, reef and steer. I think it has to be 'heroic woman/female warrior' if not "thrice wandering".
Lol Verity, Lisa Kay, Autumn, & Christine:-) I'm enjoying rereading just the chapters I should read, now that I finished the book:-D And yes, MC is one of those authors whose books you can't put down!Mshj, I think you mean etymology:-D And I also find it interesting! Lisa Kay, that's a pretty good question you could ask MC.. BTW, should I ask her to drop in next Friday or Saturday? That should give all of us time to finish up?
Regarding chapters 4-7, I love the scene (view spoiler), and the scene (view spoiler). I also love the fact that he's not sure he can win an argument with her! At the end of chapter 7, we finally get (view spoiler). For me, this was the point where I really said to myself: hmmm. they are made for each other!:-D
Melanie, LOL! This is fun! With regards to Ms. Canham, I think next Friday or Saturday would be great. I just don't know how to pose my question or if I should just refer her to posts 111 & 112. LOL!I agree with you about the above scenes. This couple is enjoyable to read. So much so that I have finally caved and am shamelessly ahead of the reading schedule, despite reading three other books to try to slow my reading of this one! We picked the wrong book with which to attempt discipline. LMAO! Chapter 9 spoiler: I loved when Simon (view spoiler).
Lisa Kay wrote: "Melanie, LOL! This is fun! With regards to Ms. Canham, I think next Friday or Saturday would be great. I just don't know how to pose my question or if I should just refer her to posts 111 & 112...."This is fun, but you're right, we should have chosen a less intriguing book:-D I also love that scene in chapt 9 you mentioned:-D I'll get an email together for Ms Canham then, and send it off tomorrow? I propose we wait for her Sunday or Monday (Sunday might not be good for her)? That way we have Saturday to finish up the read and get a dozen or so questions together.. What do you think?
Okay, I finally have some down time to read, and what am I doing? Checking out Goodreads!! I am still behind (on chapter 6) but never fear, I will catch up. To be honest, it was a little slow starting for me. I haven't read many pirate books, and though I like the ship-talk, I don't understand a lot of it, so I'm constantly using the dictionary for the many nautical terms I've yet to come across in any other reading. It is starting to pick up a bit for me, so I will keep at it today!
Great, Shell's Bells! I look forward to reading what you have to say.
I don't know much about ships either but I loved the prologue - I didn't even look for the words I didn't know, I just went with the imagery in my head of what was going on (thanks to pirate movies of course!)One of the things I loved about the book is that Beau was an integral part of her father's crew and she wasn't a simpering miss that wanted 'adventure' or some claptrap like that. I hate those.
Yes, D.G. There are so many nice little touches like (view spoiler) in the story. Especially since Beau has black hair and in on a body of water...ugly duckling...not that I need to spell it out to anyone. And the pleasure of Simon realizing the
significance
was almost as delicious as me putting it together. I love having an artist in a story!
Since I finished this one a week ago (for a different group read), I don't remember what's in each chapter, so I'll just comment on what's already been mentioned. :DMy favorite scene is the first meeting between Beau & Simon... especially when she (view spoiler). I also loved the scene in the cabin (view spoiler).
Simon's behavior while being rescued did not bother me... he's a pirate, so I want him to be a little bad. :)
Nice to hear from you SmittenKitten! Soooooo, you like the bad boys, hummmmm?
Oh yeahhhhhh, both in books & real life. :D I think that's why I'm such a fan of Anne Stuart... love her heroes!
Well, Anne Stuart sure knows how to write a bad boy. Man-oh-man! Afterall, she made me fall in love with a hired killer in
and I never thought that would happen. LOL!
I'm pretty tolerant of heroes but they must be honorable in their way. I can understand being ruthless but I draw the line at biting the hand that feeds them or stabbing people in the back (and this is what Simon's behavior seemed to me.) Of course, he has his reasons and he grovels prettily at Beau's father's feet later on - but if he had done this for kicks, I would have been happy if Beau had disemboweled him and throw his remains to the sharks.
Yes, D.G. I, too, like the appropriate amount of groveling done by the hero, when warranted.
Lol, who doesn't love an overbearing asshat alpha hero brought to his knees?;-p
I am jumping in on the Buddy Read for Across a Moonlit Sea. I read it a loooong time ago. I kept the book and dug it out when I started reading the comments. I am behind but I should catch up with you guys. I just started chapter five. I love all of her books.
Great, Annie! Welcome aboard!Melanie, Truer words were never typed!
Melanie wrote: "Lol, who doesn't love an overbearing asshat alpha hero brought to his knees?;-p"Amen!!!
will try to start this today...dunno with 5 kids off school for Easter break and I'm taking them to the movies this afternoon, not sure how much I will get done!
I have been out of commission thanks to a nasty bug (thanks, kids!) so am trying to catch up here too. But I did put a pretty good dent in it last night and this morning on the bus. I just love her characters - and all the historical detail - the scenes are as vivid as a film. I definitely want to ask Marsha about her research process!
I'm on chapter 10, not at all where I should be, but it's finally drawing me in. Sometimes it takes me a while to get hooked, but this one is now. I think for me, I like to get to know a little something about the characters from the beginning that make me want to find out more about them. There wasn't enough about Simon's character in the beginning to draw me in, I knew general stuff, but now that I'm learning more personal stuff, and not getting all of it, I want to keep reading to learn it all!I do think it is beautifully told however. Ms. Canham does have a wonderful way with words, and I can actually visualize the cannons, the fierce way Cimaroon looks, its great!
I totally agree about the beginning too, Shell's Bells, Simon did not grab me at all at first. I am now all caught up, and ahem, definitely feeling 'grabbed' by Simon. Lol. I just love Beau, unapologetic and very rarely rueful about her absolute unladylike kicka$$ness. I laughed out loud at the brief scene where she catalogued the state of her appearance as compared to the vision of feminine perfection boarding the ship.
I am a little behind (just getting ready to start Chapter 16); had a migraine all day! Ugh. Should be able to catch up tonight.Anywayzzz...Simion and Beau finally (view spoiler).
I agree with you , Shell's Bells...Ms. Canham does have a way with words.
Jennifer, Love Beau too!
I am way behind...only on chapter 7...just no time in the day I guess. Dunno how people can read 3 or 4 books in a day....do ya have nothing else to do...LOL Anyway! Like it so far and just received the second book in the mail...The Iron Rose
Hope you're feeling better Lisa Kay! I'm a little behind too & plan to catch up tonight.Love the rich details & characters in this book. Gotta love Spence's fatherly advice & his way with words... (view spoiler) LOL!
Thanks, Christine. Sometimes I fight my "cluster" migraines for a couple of days; luckily I have meds to take. I should finish up AAMS today or tonight if nothing interfers.And YES! Sometimes with father/daughter talks on that subject I get an uncomfortable, squrimy feeling - but that one was well done, indeed!
And what can I say about Chapter 17, page 251?? Wow! (view spoiler)
Just ordered a bunch of Marsha Canham books and I can't believe I didn't order
!!! Her Robin Hood series looks good. And of course, her westerns; I ♥ a good western.
Lisa Kay wrote: "Thanks, Christine. Sometimes I fight my "cluster" migraines for a couple of days; luckily I have meds to take. I should finish up AAMS today or tonight if nothing interfers.And YES! Sometimes ..."
I feel for you! I get occasional migraines that leave me bed bound for a day & then feeling drugged up the following day.
I plan to read all of Marsha's books, can't wait to start on her Robin Hood & Highlands series!
The only western I've read so far is
& LOVED it!
Christine S., I just bought:
I thought Pale Moon Rider was a western, but it's not - so only one western. Nonetheless, WTDM looks good!
Lisa Kay - You made a good haul there! It looks she wrote 2 westerns
was like - $22 !! OMG, and it's a western? I better see if they have it in Kindle.
Try looking at ebay & other used sources for
... there are a lot of cheap copies out there. I actually have 3 copies of this one... my first copy was only like $3 and in like new condition and the other used copies came in Marsha Canham lots for really good prices.
is the only one of hers I'm still looking for.. I've got all the rest. :)
Even the Kindle version of
is almost $18 ! Wow. I'm not too thrilled with the antebellum period...but people are marking it as a western.
Lisa Kay wrote: " was like - $22 !! OMG, and it's a western? I better see if they have it in Kindle."Ouch, the kindle edition is pricey too.... $17.99! They have used paperbacks available from quite a few sellers through Amazon
Chistine, We posted almost at the same time with the same info - is this where I say "Owe me a coke!" ?? LOL!
Lisa Kay wrote: "Chistine, We posted almost at the same time with the same info - is this where I say "Owe me a coke!" ?? LOL!"
LOL! You're right SFTH does sound more antebellum than western.... guess it's the gun on the cover that seems western.
Lisa Kay & Christine S - Her Robin Hood series is one of my favorites.
We Love Lisa Kleypas
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I was really pissed off at Simon's behavior. (view spoiler)[ Behaving like that after these people save his life! (hide spoiler)] Anyhow...he redeems himself later and Beau really gives him a hard time.