Romance, Historical or Otherwise discussion
What Are You Reading Now?
Shell wrote: "Are they all only on e-reader tho?"Yes!
I'm glad you liked Rock Chick Leea. It was highly hilarious.
Marcella, how do you like the Rock Chick Rescue?Ummm, I have a huge crush on Eddie :)
I really liked Rescue. If you have a crush on Eddie get ready to swoon when you read Rescue. He is absolutely delicious in the book.
I'm in anguish right now, in a literary sense. In
, McKenzie is pissing me off! And she just (view spoiler)
I wish I remember what scene you were referencing. I tend to forget the order of things shortly after reading a book.
Well, he's rough with her too so I think they're even. :) But you're right, I hate slapping.
I never believed in that romance to heavily, but I thought he was hot. :) I agree and DG and Courtney.I don't understand what life is giving me right now. It is beyond me. (view spoiler)
Sorry you're having such a rough day Regina. There's nothing wrong with ranting and getting it out. Finished
and it was okay but I liked the first book better.Starting
for real this time. The first couple of chapters have been good.
Aww, Regina. That sucks. Hope things improve.
Sorry Regina! I hope things get better.
I finished
. I just love this series. It just has me laughing my ass off. So entertaining!
Sorry Regina :( That really sucks.I'm still reading
and I'm liking it better than book #3. I hope to finish it tonight so that I can join in on book 5 with Wendy and Leea.
Sorry Regina, that's rough!!I am definitely going to be starting the next Troubleshooters. I just can't until tomorrow night. I'm finishing up Golden Lily and I won't get much time to read tonight, no kid here, lol.
Read
Didn't think it was one of her better ones.
Regina, oh honey it will get better, I just know it! I'm so sorry about your husband knee. I'm sure he feels bad. Gosh, I wish I could help you in some way. Just know i'm thinking about you :) Rant away anytime.I started
and read the first 4 chapters. I plan on reading a lot tomorrow while the kids are both in camp - yahoo!
Finished
. I hate love triangles and this one was unbelievable, too.Now I'm going to start
!
Courtney wrote: "Finished . I hate love triangles and this one was unbelievable, too."Was it really good? It's on my reading list for quite sometime now but I haven't gone ahead and read it. Is this book's vibe the same like the Fever series? Or not?
Sarah - The book was good in general but I didn't really like the romance or the heroine's character development. The author writes pretty well. As for similarities with the Fever series, I've only read the first book of the series and I really don't find it similar at all.
The only thing similar is that they're both urban fantasy. The stories and characters aren't alike at all.
Courtney wrote: "Sarah - The book was good in general but I didn't really like the romance or the heroine's character development. The author writes pretty well. As for similarities with the Fever series, I've only..."Thanks for the heads-up. I like my books with a meaty romance plot or sub-plot in them so I'm not sure if I wanna go through reading with it. But maybe I'll change my mind.
Stacia ~ mistress of mediocrity wrote: "The only thing similar is that they're both urban fantasy. The stories and characters aren't alike at all."
Yeah...that's what I gathered. My intro to these adult urban fantasy was the Fever series and I've enjoyed that immensely. For years, I've been reading Da Vinci-like books and YA fantasy books so that book opened a world of possibilities to me. But I haven't read another urban fantasy book after that. I tried reading Chicagoland Vampires but after book 2 I've stopped. I also tried reading Kate Daniels but I haven't progressed after Chapter 3. So yeah, I'm still finding that next urban fantasy that will capture my attention.
Do you prefer world building or romance? That might help narrow things down a bit. If you like a more detailed world and don't mind a slower build romance then you might be more of a traditional urban fantasy type. If you like the romance to be more of a focus, you might want to switch to paranormal romance. I like both depending on my mood but I have more hardline UF series that I like vs. PNR.Many of us around here are BDB fans though regarding pnr, so that's not a bad starter series for the genre. The first book is a little unpolished but book 2 is really good.
Fifty Shades of Grey is killing me right now - I paid for the book so I'll definitely make myself finish it but it is disturbing (not for the BDSM aspect, surprisingly enough).Even more so to think that some people may go around thinking that this sort of behaviour from a guy is totally acceptable and even, dare I say it, romantic because he's rich, good looking and 'such a broken individual who needs me to stay with him no matter what he does cos he's such a special little soldier - diddums'. There's a thin line that has been crossed, whilst speeding, and the sight of it has now been lost in the rear view mirror!
Stacia ~ mistress of mediocrity wrote: "Do you prefer world building or romance? That might help narrow things down a bit. If you like a more detailed world and don't mind a slower build romance then you might be more of a traditional ur..."Ok. I don't know how to answer your questions because I don't really understand some of the terms you are throwing at me! LOL.
Um...what do you mean by:
1. world building
2. BDB - though I have to guess, is it Black Daggers Brotherhood? Am I right?
TBH I don't think I'll ever be into PNR. Vampires scares me to death; I know it's silly but I just can't get into them knowing they suck human blood for food. (Until now, I still sleep with a pillow over my head so that my neck is fully protected from you know...Haha! Weird I know, but true story - never got over my vampire fear.)
Vampires, werewolves - I never got the fascination. The only two things I love with vampires with them are: Interview with the Vampire (the movie) & Blade.
I'll probably stick with UF because even though I love my romance in my book I won't enjoy them if one or both(!) are vampires,werewolves,etc.
There are so many books out there to choose from, what is a good starter book to get my groove on for this type of genre?
Hayley wrote: "Fifty Shades of Grey is killing me right now - I paid for the book so I'll definitely make myself finish it but it is disturbing (not for the BDSM aspect, surprisingly enough).Even more so to thi..."
You mean it's disturbing that people condone Christian's behavior because he's good-looking, rich, and sexy? What lines were crossed? He did not coerced Anna to do the things that they did. Anna agreed to all but of course some of them she did not like afterwards. They had a written contract which they had negotiated down to the last letter. What complicates matter is that Anna fell in love with the guy and it hurts her that Christian was so f***d up. She cannot fathom why a guy like him could be so tortured and unfeeling. Of course that would be answered in Book 2 but I'm not sure if you're willing to read that one. :)
I'm only commenting on what I've read so far.If, after a first meeting, a guy has found out my address to send me a parcel of expensive books, 'conveniently' turn up at my workplace and then track my cell phone after a drunk call and then proceeded to take me back to his place to sleep it off, and all this when we barely know each other - I would consider him a bit too 'much' and my own actions of the drunk dialling thing beyond the pale. Ana is made to come across as some 21 yr old virgin who not only has no clue about the basics but has kept so far out of the world as to come across as completely clueless in almost all aspects of life in general and it just makes her attempts at being 'independent' unbelievable, imo.
The contract thing is the most sensible part of what I've read so far but Christian knows he has an innocent girl deeply infatuated with him and, as he himself has said, he uses sex as a weapon - and he seems to use it so that she is easily manipulated by feelings that she 'doesn't understand', easily done if this is your first time experiencing all of this. It just doesn't smack of anything I can understand. Probably doesn't help that my own personality is so different from Ana's that I just can't get why she'd let herself be led into this situation with a guy who she knows she's not going to get anything out of beyond the physical.
On top of this the writing style is annoying me - it's choppy, flighty and a bit immature, also there are some discrepancies etc that I hoped someone would have picked up on - unless they were just so happy to be 'breaking the mold' by releasing this subject matter on the general public... no publicity is bad publicity after all.
All in all, I'm probably over-analysing this book and unable to relate - but hey, I'm gonna say it's a 'Marmite' book and I'm not a big Marmite fan anyway ;D
Hayley, I agree with you completely. :) I started it when it was a self-pub. I ended up dnfing it b/c I couldn't stand the writing style and the storyline bothered me. The book seems to hit people differently, there are people on this list that liked it and I agree with them on lots of other books, but not this one. :D Christian seriously bothered me, for lots of reasons. I say, just put it aside. Pushing through a book that you are not enjoying is not worth it. There are so many better steamy romances/erotica/psycholoical romances out there!
Regina wrote: "There are so many better steamy romances/erotica/psycholoical romances out there! "I know there are - I've read a fair amount on ffic and ficpress ;)
I dunno, not finishing feels like a failure to me - especially after I paid for the thing just to see what all the hype was about :S
I'm going top carry on just because every book deserves reading all the way through (I don't extend this theory to series being finished mind ;P). It's only 188 pages to go now anyways :)
Thanks for letting me know you feel the same way - Christian would be getting avoided by me (and poss issued with a restraining order :O) if I was in that situation, weird vibes!
Haha, if not finishing is a failure then I am a huge one. :D Carry on then! Good luck!
Haha, it's mainly a case of 'I paid money so darn it I'm gonna finish this book!' If I hadn't spent anything on iot I wouldn't have felt so obligated but nwo it's just a matter of principles ;DThanks - I think now I know what sort of story-telling to expect and moved my bar of expectations accordingly I'm actually reading through this a bit quicker... and then, once I've finished, I can get back to reading Les Mis!!
Hayley wrote: "I'm only commenting on what I've read so far.If, after a first meeting, a guy has found out my address to send me a parcel of expensive books, 'conveniently' turn up at my workplace and then trac..."
Right OK. Gotcha. I have to agree what Christian has done to "pursue" Anna is borderline-stalker-ish but Christian is not a normal guy. He has his own way of thinking, his own set of rules that unfortunately does not jibe within the normal rules of society. Take for instance that book. I think he is a generous guy but since he does not think in normal terms he has no idea what proper "gift" means. He doesn't know that a rare, first edition book is not a proper gift to somebody he just have met. He just thinks its proper that if ever you have to give a gift to someone it should be the best there is to find on this planet (literally).
Is it that really bad that Christian seduced Anna? Is it really weird? I mean, he gave Anna some space (albeit reluctantly) but Anna had researched the whole aspect of the contract and even though she has misgivings, she agreed fully on her own, without force.
Though in my own honest opinion, if that would happen to me, it would probably be not okay with and will definitely see it as creepy but I'm not Anna and I think what happened between the two of them although painful is quite fascinating.
The gift itself, whilst OTT, isn't the issue so much as knowing the address when they'd only had an interview. Not being a normal guy and having his own way of think is not excusable to me - there are real life guys out there that have rules that don't jibe with society's and I'm quite sure I wouldn't want them seducing me with presents, phone tracking etc :S Also, he surely can't be that oblivious to social etiquettes etc that he'd make that faux-pas, thought he was meant to come across as the knowledgeable man of the world? What does he give his PA for a christmas bonus :OI'm glad that Ana researched the contract (how she managed 4 years at Uni doing an English Lit degree with only the University's computers and her roomie's laptop to go with I don't know!) but that still doesn't mean that I don't think Christian is using her innocence and curiosity to get what he wants whilst she doesn't get the 'more' of a relationship that she wants (oh wait, one night a week of him trying, woo!) there doesn't need to be obvious force when you can use subtlety and misleading words/phrases to confuse the poor girl more than she already is.
Hayley wrote: "The gift itself, whilst OTT, isn't the issue so much as knowing the address when they'd only had an interview. Not being a normal guy and having his own way of think is not excusable to me - there ..."Well, he probably has an inkling of what the social norms but being the person that he is, he would probably just ignore if it doesn't serve his purpose. Going back to the gift thing, even though he thinks a rare book would be too much of a gift, he still did it because he just couldn't bear the thought of giving someone an "inferior" gift if he knows there is a better version out there in the world. That's just the way the guy thinks, in my opinion, though in other people it would translate as "too intense", or just plain creepy.
I think what happened with Anna is she took a leap of faith with Christian - he likes him enough to agree on something she would normally would not do. I mean a virgin tackling a Dom-Sub rel? Whoo! Isn't it a bit much for a first-ever relationship? (If you can even call it like that). I don't know if you got at the end, but Anna did have an epiphany of sorts towards the end.
But I think during their negotiation, if Anna eventually said NO to Christian, he would not seduce, pursue Anna anymore. He would be greatly disappointed for sure, but he is not that creepy that he will still pursue the issue if the lady had already said no. If you remember, there is the scene at the beginning where Jose was drunk kissing Anna and Christian came to her rescue? Christian hated Jose for that and would have a hard time letting go at that.
BTW, I actually graduated Uni having used only University's computers, and using my friend's computers and a lot of hours of computer rentals. It's hard (you have to comply with the school and the stores closing hours) but doable. :) It actually makes you very efficient because you have to get things done before the store closes. Haha. Stressful times.
Ah, but see, there he's put her in an uncomfortable position and then kept her there every other time he's lavished her with gift because her refusing will make him angry or hurt his feelings - and she's made to knwo that that is not something that bodes well for her.I think it is a bit much for a first relationship and Christian should know this, heck even she admits it to herself quite a few times but doesn't want to lose him so puts all her fears and emotions to one side just to keep him happy and for the bedroom action(so far as I've read, as previously stated I have not finished this book). In fact, Christians own experience and how it seems that may have affected him somewhat should definitely give him an idea as how to proceed.
Ana has said no to Christian at parts and as far as I've seen that's encouraged him to turn up unannounced at her place, taken her to the bedroom or guilt tripped her so that she becomes overwhelmed with emotiona nd just keeps going on.
At the moment I've jsut seen his response to her explaining her feelings about something he carried out: "...do you think you could just try and embrace these feelings, deal with them, for me? That's what a submissive would do." There's no 'Let's work through them and I'll try to help you come to terms or work through them with you.' It's a simple guilt trip/'you obviously have no idea and so I'll use it against you' move that'd have me and my 'inner goddess' (gosh how I hate that imagery) seething.
TBH, Christian seems to get angry at any contact she has with men, but I remember that scene as being the one where he found her with next to no help from her (but her cell phone was a different matter). It's great he came to her rescue but how he managed it puts a dampener on the whole thing :S The actions are fine, the way they're brought about are just plain wrong in my view. If, maybe, he'd found another way of getting the books to her, readers were shown an acceptable way of him finding the address/her location then I'd be more open to the idea, but it all comes across as TOO controlling to be healthy, 'person I want to hang around with' material.
Congrats for managing to get through Uni that way btw, full credit to you - I just find it hard to imagine her character managing that, she just doesn't come across that good/efficient/practical ;D
Anyway, I'm off leaving work early, will love to get back on once home if I can, loving this talk :D
I'm almost done with The Sleeping Night and I'm scared to death of that ending. I get a feeling that something terrible will happen.I'm also 2/3 of the way into Slaughterhouse-Five which I don't think I'm getting. I want to finish it though so I had to speed up the narration.
Hayley wrote: "Ah, but see, there he's put her in an uncomfortable position and then kept her there every other time he's lavished her with gift because her refusing will make him angry or hurt his feelings - and..."Same here. :)
But mmm... I can't respond immediately to this as I have not read the book for about a month and a half now; I have a poor memory and my memory fails me now. I'll skim the book to get my bearing again. I have to get ammunition as to what do I want say. :)
We have no sufficient evidence for Anna's capacity as a student but you can be a good student even though in personal matters you are quite immature (or insecure or gawky). Maybe Anna has confidence with her abilities as a student otherwise she wouldn't graduate on time if she is such a bad student. And she couldn't that job interviews right after graduation if she has poor grades.
D.G. ~Captain Hussy~ wrote: "I'm almost done with The Sleeping Night and I'm scared to death of that ending. I get a feeling that something terrible will happen.I'm also 2/3 of the way into Slaughterhouse-Five which I don't ..."
That is another one I have started and stopped.
I am listening to
right now and loving it. I used to live in Mexico City very near where Frida Kahlo lived, so I am loving the setting so much. And I love the food talk and the sprinkled in Spanish. I am impressed that this American author is getting it right. The author is narrating it, and admittedly she is not a good narrator but I feel like a friend is reading it to me so I am enjoying it at the moment. Like many people who love Mexico -- I am fascinated with Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera and I visited their home several times (it is a museum now). So I feel like I am immersed in the book. I finished
and really liked (not loved) it. I am at the beginning of
and as usual for this series I am LOVING this book.
Sarah wrote: "Hayley wrote: "Ah, but see, there he's put her in an uncomfortable position and then kept her there every other time he's lavished her with gift because her refusing will make him angry or hurt his..."Haha, that's okay, I sometimes get the same way with books too :) I'm gonna hafta finish the book whilst you skim over it so we both have full knowledge (and memory) fresh in our minds - the only way to properly discuss a book :)
I will admit this, the BDSM part of the book does seem the most well written in that, so far, it is well written and does seem to stay within the boundaries set, I will be mightily miffed if that changes for the worst - but so far I'm pleased.
It's mainly the excuses being used for the characters and their personalities that start me off on my 'annoyed' streak and then, once I'm on a roll, I start noticing how much I dislike the writing and how it could be improved and then I just can't help myself :S
However, milady, enjoy your skim/refresher and I shall crack on with the reading :D
I don't blame you, Regina. I've been wanting to start that Sophie Littlefield series. Have you listened to it or just read it?
I listened to the first two. The first two had to be listened to on 1.5X speed, but they were good at that speed. The third had a new narrator that didn't have to be sped up. I am reading an arc of the 4th.
So I didn't do much reading this weekend, my mom has been in town. Sightseeing galore and lots of fun. Funny thing about having visitors, I get the chance to see things through the eyes of a tourist. Much more fun than numbly heading to work and home everyday.Anyhow, I started
and it is pretty intense. I'm really having a hard time being able to forgive the hero his selfish, nasty behavior in the prologue. Getting into his head is helping but still a huge hurdle for me to overcome before I can see the heroine together with him. So we'll see how it goes.
Kelly, I can't wait to hear what you think of that book. I've been meaning to read it.
I wonder if a reader's perspective would also be different if they weren't a parent/mother? Trying to keep that in mind as I read too.
I'm a nasty person. That's the sort of thing I couldn't forgive.If I thought he had repented and he's a good influence I would allow him back in the child's life but no way I'd get back with him.
The whole situation with Take this Regret was effed up. I thought the book was okay and slow at times. I read it a few months ago but I recall feeling really annoyed and the journey it took to reach the end was very repetitive.
I finished
last night and really liked it. I liked this authored before but this book really won me over.
D.G. ~Captain Hussy~ wrote: "I'm a nasty person. That's the sort of thing I couldn't forgive."D.G., not nasty at all. I think that is why I'm having such a hard time with the book. I just can't get past what he did in the beginning.
Kay wrote: "The whole situation with Take this Regret was effed up. "
LOL. I totally agree!
Kelly wrote: "So I didn't do much reading this weekend, my mom has been in town. Sightseeing galore and lots of fun. Funny thing about having visitors, I get the chance to see things through the eyes of a tour..."I remember coming across this book when I was browsing the site a few days back. The blurb sounds pretty painful. Is it a tearjerker?
And the guy was an a*s. You should never turn your back on your child. If he doesn't want to be with the woman fine at least he's being honest with his feelings but she should support the woman with regards to the child 100%.
Kelly wrote: "D.G., not nasty at all. I think that is why I'm having such a hard time with the book. I just can't..."
I'll think I'll feel the same if I ever decide to read this book.
D.G. ~Captain Hussy~ wrote: "I'm a nasty person. That's the sort of thing I couldn't forgive.
If I thought he had repented and he's a good influence I would allow him back in the child's life but no way I'd get back with him."
So true. As much as he acted like an a*s at the beginning if he is willing to be in the child's life you shouldn't deny your child the chance to be with his dad. Come hell or high water, its 50% of his DNA on the child's body. And it will be good for your kid's welfare if he will be given a chance to spend time with his father. But that doesn't mean you can accept him again as your man. No way! What he did could cut you up to the core.
But isn't it quite vindictive if you can't find the heart to forgive him? I think you can't move on fully if you don't try to forgive someone. And you can forgive someone but not forget what he did.
Romance, Historical or Otherwise
Books mentioned in this topic
Freedom Calling: A Civil War Slave Escapes By Sea (other topics)The Edge Of Freedom (other topics)
Ruthless King (other topics)
The Awakening of Ivy Leavold (other topics)
The Wife Test (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Roxie Rivera (other topics)Susan Wiggs (other topics)
Lynn Kurland (other topics)
Bill Relf (other topics)
Lynn Kurland (other topics)
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Laughing is good. Glad you enjoyed your book!