To Die For

I have a confession. I stopped reading Linda Howard years ago. All of her characters started to seem the same, so I read a few of her single titles, then quit. However, last year I heard good things about her book Cry No More, so I bought it once it came out in paperback. I haven't read it, but I read To Die For during the weekend because it sounded different. I ended up enjoying it tremendously. It's not perfect, and I was originally going to give it a 4, but I've already reread it once. That makes it a keeper in my book: 5 out of 5.

Blair Mallory owns a gym called Great Bods, but she's had some trouble with a gym member who started imitating her hairstyle, clothing, and manner. When this troublesome woman's membership expires, Blair won't allow her to renew it. The woman storms out after an angry confrontation. When Blair goes out to the parking lot after work, she sees the woman's car in the parking lot. Soon she hears a gunshot and thinks someone is trying to kill her. She goes back inside, calls the police, and discovers that the woman has been killed. This turn of events brings police lieutenant Wyatt Bloodsworth, a man she dated briefly two years ago, back into her life.

To Die For is told in first-person from Blair's point of view, which is perfect for this story. Blair is an ex-cheerleader who runs a gym, and I loved getting inside her head. It was fascinating to watch the couple interact from Blair's perspective, and I loved small (or not-so-small) details such as Blair's sensitive neck. The handstand and movie incidents are funny, too.

I'm going to give Linda Howard another try. I'll read Cry No More one of these days, and I'd definitely buy another book written in the same style as To Die For.

Alyssa

Monday Morning Realization

I've been so busy being sick that I forgot that J.D. Robb's Survivor in Death is coming out tomorrow. I order the In Death series from her husband's bookstore, which means I should get it tomorrow, or might even get it today. Yay! How nice that I don't have long to wait.

Alyssa

Better Than Chocolate . . .

This seems to be a weekend in which I blog about books with weird punctuation. I read Better Than Chocolate . . . by Jennifer LaBrecque and loved it: 5 out of 5.

Last year, I read LaBrecque's Barely Behaving; it was OK, but I didn't feel inclined to buy anything else. I picked up Better Than Chocolate . . . at the library, and now it looks like I need to get a copy for myself.

Eve Carmichael and Jack LaRoux are up for the same vice-president position at Hendley and Wells Advertising. The one who creates the campaign for a certain client will get the position. Jack and Eve haven't met; she works in the New York office, while he works in San Francisco. Both go to Chicago to have an initial meeting with the client to discuss ideas. Before that, though, Eve and Jack meet in the hotel, and go out for a drink.

I'll state right now that Jack finds out who Eve is, but he doesn't reciprocate. In most cases, I'd think that was a rotten thing to do. And it is. LaBrecque, however, shows talent in creating complex characters. Jack is likable even though his actions in this situation aren't. When Eve discovers the deception, she handles it much differently than I expected. She's a woman who gives as good as she gets. And I love the fact that she's attractive but not gorgeous.

Complexity is perhaps the best word for this story. The characters are complex, the situations are complex, and the sex is complex. I simply couldn't put this book down. (But again, what's up with the punctuation? No ellipsis is needed.)

On a reading note, I'm seeing a trend here. Better Than Chocolate . . . isn't the first book I've liked with a coworkers-who-don't-know-each-other plot. Jacquie D'Alessandro's We've Got Tonight also uses this storyline. Different execution, of course, but I loved it, too. I wonder why I seem to be drawn to this scenario? Must give this some thought.

Alyssa

Every Boy's Got One

I discovered Meg Cabot last year when I was in a used bookstore, saw and liked the cover of Boy Meets Girl, and decided to buy it. Now I buy her books new, and I don't mind buying them in trade-size paperback. Every Boy's Got One is her latest book, and it's wonderful: 4 out of 5.

Cartoonist Jane Harris is flying to Italy to be the maid of honor at her best friend's wedding. All would be well, except for the best man, Cal Langdon, who not only has never heard of Jane's Wondercat cartoon, but he also doesn't believe in love or that Holly and Mark should get married. So, what else can a maid of honor do but try to change his mind?

Every Boy's Got One is loosely connected to Boy Meets Girl and The Boy Next Door. Like the other two books, this story is told through e-mail messages; this book adds journal entries, PDA notes, and more. Some of the more amusing moments:

• Jane starts out writing in a travel journal she plans to give to Mark and Holly, the couple. She changes her mind after writing about Cal, "He is kind of cute. I mean, if you like the tall, rugged, sandy-haired, razor-stubbled-with-piercing-blue-eyes-who-knows-how-to-use-a-Blackberry type. Okay. Now I definitely won't be able to give this to Holly and Mark as a wedding present."
  
• Jane and Holly are e-mailing each other while they travel in the same car. Holly assures Jane that the men aren't paying attention to what they're doing. Of course, Mark e-mails Cal and says, "The girls are emailing back and forth about us."


• Holly tells Jane a rumor about Cal that leads him to write, "She has this unnerving habit of staring at my crotch. Yes, she's short, but certainly not so much that this is where her eye level might naturally rest."


• Jane e-mails Cal while traveling. His reply, "Ms. Harris. What a surprise. You're emailing me. From the backseat."


• The group ends up meeting a boy who maintains a Wondercat fan website. He e-mails regular updates to his mailing list, which he signs, "Wundercat Lives--4eva!"

I love the way Cabot doesn't shy away from creating imperfect characters and letting us laugh at them. Jane, for instance, is in many ways a stereotypical American traveler who thinks things should be the way they are in America. In spite of this, she has a refreshing sense of wonder that balances her character and makes her appealing. Cal is also multidimensional.

I've said before that there aren't many authors who make me laugh out loud. Meg Cabot is one of them, and I'm glad she keeps writing.

Alyssa

P.S. Want to know what every boy has? You'll have to read the book.

"Wicked" Women 101

I can't seem to resist Brava titles. When I see them in the bookstore, I always read the back covers to see if I would enjoy them. I wish they weren't always released as trade paperbacks first, but that just makes me more selective; it doesn't stop me from buying. Last week, I bought Susannah Carr's "Wicked" Women 101. It's quite good: 4 out of 5.

"Six Weeks to Sensuality": 3 out of 4
Amy's ex-boyfriend publically proposed to her nemesis, which was a big blow to her self-esteem. Amy reacts by joining Dr. Marc Javier's sensuality project, so she can go to the engagement party and show everyone that she doesn't care about the ex.

Marc and Amy have been attracted to each other for some time, but neither has acted on that attraction. There are some nice moments between the characters, but I don't like the whole make-me-over-into-a-sensual-woman theme. To give Marc credit, he says that he likes her the way she is, without changing. But that's not the message I got from the rest of the story. The ex and his fiancee are a bit too stereotypical, too.

"Code Pink": 4 out of 5
When Jennifer goes to the restaurant to meet a man, she wasn't expecting him to be her former lover Bryan. Jennifer is a skilled encryptionist, and Bryan decoded the message to her date. Sparks fly as they make a bet about whether he can decode three more messages.

Jennifer and Bryan have an interesting history, which unfolds nicely through the story. They also have chemistry--always a good thing in a Brava title. This is the shortest of the three stories, and it's excellent.

"Fantasies Are Forever": 4 out of 5
Caroline has been fantasizing about coworker Joe, and it's gotten to the point that she can't focus. Her solution: she'll sleep with him and get him out of her system. Joe has other plans. He's wanted Caroline for months, but he doesn't want only one night.

I like reading about men who know what they want and aren't afraid of commitment, and Joe is both these things. This story is at its best when Joe and Caroline are together. I wanted to see a little less of Caroline talking with her friends; there's a distracting subplot with a magic potion. I understand the point Carr makes with it; I'm just not sure it's necessary. But I love the way Caroline and Joe finally get together.

This anthology is one I'll keep; I'll enjoy rereading the last two stories.

As a side note: what's up with the weird punctuation? "Wicked" Women 101 doesn't need quotation marks. I think readers can tell that the women aren't really wicked. Otherwise, why haven't they been added to titles like Bad Boys Next Exit?

Alyssa

Dark Enchantment

Wow, Karen Harbaugh is good. I just finished Dark Enchantment and loved it: 4 out of 5.

Catherine de la Fer has no memory of her life before the past few months, and she's been living in Paris. One night, she saves a girl who is being attacked, and ends up getting injured herself. Jack Marstone takes her back to his lodgings so she'll have a place to recover. Catherine is unusual for more reasons than her amnesia. The wounds on her back and her hands heal surprisingly quickly, too quickly.

Since Dark Enchantment is connected to Harbaugh's earlier book Night Fires, I expected it to be a vampire story. It isn't, but I won't say what it is; you'll enjoy it more by discovering it as you read. Catherine and Jack are both terrific characters. I like how Jack, a mercenary, gradually realizes how valuable Catherine is to him. And Catherine is no stereotypical damsel in distress.

Jack and Catherine are separated for a good part of the book. Though I would have liked to see them together for more of the story, I was surprised by how little this bothered me. Usually long separations drive me crazy. However, this one worked.

I've been visiting several new-to-me blogs lately, and at Suzanne McMinn's blog, I learned about a company that designs unique blog templates (if hosted by blogspot) for $45. I'm giving this some thought. It might be fun to have something designed just for me.

Alyssa

Update

One of these days, I will write a blog entry that doesn't start with the words, "I'm still sick." Unfortunately, today is not that day. I am still sick, though I'm doing better than I was on Wednesday. It's all relative. I'm just glad it's the weekend, and I'm planning to spend much of it sleeping.

In other news, I've set aside my original idea for my Romancing the Blog entry. I have a new idea, and I've written a rough draft. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that no one will focus on this topic before February 10.

I also have two reviews to write for The Romance Reader. One is almost finished, but I haven't started the second one. I may try to finish the first one this weekend, but I don't want to push it.
Alyssa

Sick

I'm still sick, but I'm also the recipient of some good news. Rachel Gibson is coming to Utah during her book signing tour! It's sad, but true--Utah isn't a book signing hub. So imagine my surprise when I visit Gibson's website and see that she is having not one, but two book signing events in Utah, both of which are close enough to attend. OK, actually it's a bit of a drive to get to Park City, but better an hour and a half in the car than seven hours on a plane. And Murray is quite close to where I live.

I wonder if they'd mind if I brought all of my backlist for her to sign? ;)

All good news is much appreciated, since I have a monstrous headache in addition to my other cold symptoms. I'm staying home today, though I might go to work this afternoon if I can find a strong enough cold medicine. I'm going back to bed soon to lie down and die, but it's always nice to have a book signing to look forward to.

Alyssa

Hunter's Moon

If I had judged C.T. Adams and Cathy Clamp's Hunter's Moon on the fact that it's a first-person narrative from the perspective of a hitman--who happens to be a werewolf--I would have missed a great story by an interesting author team: 4 out of 5.

Yes, you read that correctly. Hunter's Moon is told in first-person. Tony Giodone is also a hitman and werewolf. He meets Sue Quentin when she hires him to kill her. You read that correctly, too. But things don't quite go as planned. Sue recently won the lottery, which put her in the spotlight. Tony doesn't agree to kill her (at least, not immediately), but he does agree to hear her story. However, the full moon is coming . . .

I enjoyed entering this fictional world. I was fascinated by the idea that emotions have different scents. As a werewolf, Tony has a keen sense of smell. He uses this in every aspect of his life, but it's particularly useful with his work. Tony is matter-of-fact about the way he earns his living. Authors Adams and Clamp create an interesting voice that really works.

Sue is startled but not horrified when Tony turns into a wolf. They forge a connection both of them find unnerving--Tony more so than Sue. There's plenty of adventure here, too. I'd describe Hunter's Moon as paranormal romantic suspense.

I checked out the authors' website, and it looks like their next book is coming out in August. It will be set in the same world, though it looks like the focus is on other characters. With any luck, we'll see Tony and Sue again. I'd love to read more about these memorable characters.

Alyssa

P.S. I do have a cold. It should go away as long as I drink a gallon of water, right?

2004 Reader Survey

I think I might have a cold. As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, I have been feeling a bit off. I ascribed it to my strange sleeping on Friday, but today I can't seem to stop sneezing, and I'm feeling yucky in general.

I've also been working on my entry in the 2004 Annual Reader Survey. Here are my votes:

Best Romance
When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn

Favorite Funny
Undead and Unwed, MaryJanice Davidson

Most-Hanky Read
Divided in Death, J.D. Robb

Most Luscious Love Story
The Bane Affair, Alison Kent

Most Tortured Hero
Dylan Moore, His Every Kiss, Laura Lee Guhrke

Strongest Heroine
Eve Dallas, Divided in Death, J.D. Robb

Best Hero
Michael Stirling, When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn

Best Heroine
Sookie Stackhouse, Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris

Best Couple
Eve Dallas and Roarke, Divided in Death, J.D. Robb

Most Annoying Lead Character
Kris Baldwin, Time's Captive, Kate Lyon

Best Author Who Debuted in 2004
Sophia Nash

Best Buried Treasure
We've Got Tonight, Jacquie D'Alessandro

Guiltiest Pleasure
Wickedly Hot, Leslie Kelly

Author Most Glommed in 2004
Suzanne Brockmann

Best Cabin or Road
When He Was Wicked, Julia Quinn

Best European Historical
Slightly Dangerous, Mary Balogh

Best Traditional Regency
A Passionate Encounter, Sophia Nash

Best Contemporary
Smart Mouth, Erin McCarthy

Best Series
We've Got Tonight, Jacquie D'Alessandro

Best Romantic Suspense
The Bane Affair, Alison Kent

Best Alternate Reality
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris

Best Chick Lit
Bombshell, Lynda Curnyn

Best Short Story
"Dancers in the Dark," Charlaine Harris, Night's Edge

Author You Gave Up On in 2004
Maggie Shayne

Author Others Love that You Don't
Laura Kinsale

Most Disappointing
Return to Me, Shannon McKenna

Worst
The Lipstick Chronicles, Lori Soard

Purplest Prose
Return to Me, Shannon McKenna

I had forgotten Return to Me until I was organizing books this weekend, and I found it. I love McKenna, but Return to Me was a disappointment. Hopefully I'll like her next book better. It's due out in April.

I didn't vote in the Best American Historical, Best Medieval, or Best Villain categories, because I couldn't think of any standouts. But it was fun to create this list.

Alyssa

Operation Fridge: Success!

In December, my office moved to a new location. Today the last group of people at the old building moved here, so on Friday I had to figure out to do with my small fridge. We are not supposed to have fridges at work, but I found one on sale for $35 and couldn't resist. For the past three years, it's been in the art room at the old building. Now it's sitting under my desk, but how it got there is an interesting story.

On Friday, I drove to the old building with two of my coworkers, who volunteered for this exciting mission, though they would claim ignorance if caught. The plan was to sneak it out of the old building (not so difficult) and into the new one (a bit more challenging). The fridge is too big to put into a box, even two boxes (idea #1). It's too big to fit in a small trash bag (idea #2). The larger trash bags didn't work because they were white, and you could see through them (idea #3).

My friend Paula saved the day by giving us some Christmas wrapping paper, which she was planning to throw away. So we took the paper and wrapped up the fridge like a present (idea #4). First, however, we had to drain the fridge after defrosting it. Then we wrapped it, put it on a dolly (hand truck, whatever term you prefer), and took it out to my car. It wouldn't fit in the trunk, so it sat in the backseat.

Once we got to the new building, we took the fridge out of the car, put it on the dolly, and covered it with a desk calendar, catalog, and one of my coworker's jackets. Then we nonchalantly brought it inside. After surveying the scene, we got on the elevator and brought it back to my desk.

Now the fridge is unwrapped and is keeping a drink and some leftovers cool. Yippee, the fridge has arrived!

Alyssa

Target Tampa Trip Books in Review

I'm feeling a bit off today. I got home from work yesterday and took what I thought would be a catnap around 6:30. I didn't wake up until 1:15 this morning. I read for a while, then went back to bed about 4:00, and woke up at 10:30. As a result, I feel rather fuzzy. Hopefully I will resume normal sleeping habits tonight.

As promised, here's a review of the books I read during the Target Tampa trip.

What an Earl Wants by Shirley Karr: 3 out of 5
Traveling by plane isn't a particularly smooth experience for me, but I have gotten to the point where I can read on a flight as long as it's not during takeoff or landing. I started What an Earl Wants before the trip, but finished it on the way to Cincinnati, Ohio.

I loved this book for the first two-thirds. I'm not usually fond of stories where the heroine dresses as a man, but it worked in this story. I loved seeing the characters slowly fall in love. A certain development in the last third of the book went on too long, however, and kept the book from being completely enjoyable. I read this book for The Romance Reader; watch that site for a more detailed review. (I have to write the review first.)

This is Shirley Karr's first published book, and I will make a point of reading her next one. She's obviously talented.

Derik's Bane by MaryJanice Davidson: 3 out of 5
I read the first 100 or so pages during the trip from Cincinnati to Tampa, and finished it Thursday night in Tampa.

This is the third story in Davidson's Wyndham Werewolves series; it's also the first full-length installment. The others are short stories in the Secrets anthologies VI and VIII. Derik's Bane has funny and fun moments (those are different things, you know), but it's not much different from other stories Davidson has done.

Kiss Me, Kill Me by Ann Rule: 4 out of 5
I had read all but two of the stories in this book before the trip, but I was pleased to finally finish them on Friday. The Tampa events didn't officially start until 2:00 PM, so I had time to read in the morning.

The true-crime stories in this book are chilling accounts of people women who were killed by husbands, boyfriends, blind dates, and even strangers. As always, Rule makes the victims sympathetic and real, while examining the crime itself. In one case, I was horrified by how little prison time the perpetrator received. Yikes.

Jane's Warlord by Angela Knight: 3 out of 5
I got this one through the on-site book swap and read finished it on Saturday. Knight is certainly a steamy writer, and Jane's Warlord includes many other interesting elements, but I think there's almost too much going on here: world-building, action, and yeah, romance. I don't mean to suggest that strong books can't have all of these elements. Obviously they can. Somehow, though, Knight's balance is off. I'm not entirely convinced these two fell in love. They sure like having sex with each other, but I didn't see the strong emotional tie that says "love."

A Soldier's Christmas by Rachel Lee, Merline Lovelace, and Catherine Mann: 4 out of 5
I started this one on Sunday and finished it Monday morning. Each story in this book got better. I liked Lovelace's story more than I liked her book I read. I may try another of her full-length books. Catherine Mann's story is the stand-out--she just creates characters I enjoy.

Explosive Alliance by Catherine Mann: 4 out of 5
I started this one on the flight from Tampa to Atlanta, then finished it during the Atlanta to Salt Lake City leg of the trip.

Geez, Catherine is a good writer. I've enjoyed everything she's written so far--and I can't say that about many writers. I loved the hero and heroine of this story. Bo might be right up there with Tanner as my favorite Wingman Warrior hero.

Body Language by Suzanne Brockmann: 4 out of 5
This is one of the books I won in the silent auction at Target Tampa. I started reading it on the flight to Salt Lake City and finished it when I got home. It uses one of my favorite plots--friends who become lovers--and it was a fun read.

I'm heading to Media Play in an hour or so to pick up some books I special ordered. I also want to get Meg Cabot's newest, and anything else that grabs my attention. I have a coupon I need to use, and I definitely don't have enough books lying around (ha!).

Alyssa

Romancing the Blog

You might have noticed the new Romancing the Blog (RTB) columnist box--as you've guessed, I decided to accept the invitation to be one of their bloggers. The first task was to write a 75-word bio for the page. I spent an hour writing it. An hour! Just crazy.

I've almost finished my first RTB blog entry, and I'm completely overanalyzing what I've written so far. I think I'll let it sit for a few days and come back to it. I'm not scheduled to post it until February 10, so I'm actually ahead of the game.

Watch for a reading report in the next few days. You don't really think I went to Tampa and didn't read anything, do you? ;)

Alyssa

Target Tampa: Sunday

This is part three of a three-part series about the Target Tampa event. Here are links to part one and part two.

Quote of the Day: "Who knew you'd need to be easy to Google?"
--Alesia Holliday, in a discussion about creating a website

Chick Lit Discussion: 9:00-9:45 AM
While some people worried that this discussion was starting too early, I was thrilled to be able to sleep in until 8:00. Alesia talked about the difference between romance and chick lit. She also talked about her journey to being published. She had several books with her, and she said they'd be raffled later. People who asked a question would get an extra raffle ticket. So here I am, Ms. Shy-but-Greedy, trying to come up with a question. I ended up asking how quickly she writes, since she talked about a number of projects she has in the works.

Alesia is funny. She kept everyone laughing with her mutual orgasm joke and her take on life: "Dave Barry thinks I'm funny. I so do not have to do the dishes." If her books are half as funny as she is, they'll be wonderful. American Idle is patiently waiting its turn in my to-be-read list.

When it was time for the raffle, I received two tickets--one for attending and one for asking a question. And I won! I got a copy of Shop 'Til Yule Drop. A few numbers later, my second number was called, but I told them to pick another number.

Unfortunately, my pictures of Alesia ended up being fuzzy. However, here's a picture of the four authors from the Saturday-night party. From left to right: Alesia, Suz, Catherine, Chuck.



Hot Target Discussion: 10:00-11:30 AM
Suz shared all kinds of information during this discussion. I'll put spoilers in the comments section so you can decide whether you want to read them.

Question: Will Jules get his own story? Answer: We have not seen the last of Jules. Suz is still considering the best way to tell his story and is thinking outside the box.

Question: Regarding Hot Target's Patty: some people think she is media hungry and immature. I didn't think this at all. What did I miss? Answer: Nothing. Patty is 20 years old. Yes, she's star-struck. No, she doesn't have a realistic perception of Robin. But she's young. Suz said that if she could do it over, she would have reinforced Patty's youth throughout the book.

Question: Who will be in the book after Breaking Point? Answer: Suz doesn't know yet. She does know that she needs a vacation, and she'll take one after Breaking Point. [At this point, several audience members started gnashing their teeth.] After that, it will depend on which character taps her on the shoulder next.

At lunch, I finally got out of the hotel and walked over to the mall with Ann and Heather. We had a nice quiet lunch and stopped at the local bookstore to look for Alesia's books. Ann wanted Super What? I wanted this book too, but I was hoping to find a copy of E-mail to the Front. They didn't have any of her books, but we had fun looking.

Sunday Afternoon with a SEAL: 2:30-4:15 PM
We had more time with Chuck Pfarrer. My photos of him turned out to be fuzzy also. During this session, he talked about SEAL training, screenwriting ("That's how I got here. Being a ho."), and the situation in Iraq.

Book Signing: 4:30-6:00 PM
I realized around 3:00 that my energy was waning, so I went to the book signing area right when it started. First I went to Alesia's line, where I signed up to join her mailing list. It's a curious thing to ask someone to sign her books when you haven't read them. Or perhaps it just seemed curious to me. She was very nice, though, and she gave me some cute shoe erasers.

Then I moved to Chuck's line. Again, I felt a little odd since I hadn't read the book, but he signed it and said he hoped I would enjoy it.

Then I went back to my room to (you guessed it) take a nap.

Finale: 8:00-11:00 PM
This was the last event of the day. Suz read three more book excerpts: Jules and Gina in Gone Too Far, when he drives her to her hotel; Kate discovering Jed handcuffed to the bed in Heartthrob; and Jules and Max sharing a hotel room in Hot Target.



Then Eric performed a one-man show called No Doctors, and it was wonderfully funny, poignant, sad, and uplifting.



After the show was the final raffle. I didn't win anything this time around, but I still felt like I'd had a lucky weekend. I packed as much as I could that night. Here's my book suitcase. I ended up piling books on top before I closed the suitcase. And I put more books in my second suitcase and carry-on bag.



And that was it. On Monday, there was an optional event--a trip to a Florida Aquarium, but I had to be at the airport before the trip would end. I enjoyed the weekend tremendously, though I was also completely exhausted. I was most impressed by how accessible Suz and the other authors were. All of the attendees were also warm and welcoming. People invited me to join them for lunch or dinner and always said yes when I asked if I could sit at their table.

I would gladly attend a similar event in the future. Everyone made it fun and enjoyable. I'm already thinking about attending the RWA charity book signing in July. Reno is a little closer than Tampa, so it should be easy to arrange.

Alyssa

Target Tampa: Saturday

This is part two of a three-part report about Target Tampa weekend. Click here to read part one.

Quote of the Day: "He told me, 'I'm a hero.' I said, 'No, you're not.' And I made him short."
--Catherine Mann, in a discussion about secondary characters that surprise you

Saturday started with breakfast and another raffle. I didn't win anything this time, but there were two more raffles still to come. I was amazed by how many giveaways there were this weekend.

Focus on Writing: 10:00-11:30 AM
The first presentation of the morning focused on writing. Suz and Catherine discussed topics such as point of view and characterization. As a writer, you need to consider what do you want each scene to reveal. Who has the most at stake in that scene? This is how you can decide that scene's point of view.

Both authors emphasize the importance of knowing the backstories and motivations of your characters. This also helps you avoid the problem of characters who act out of character. Good storytelling includes a balance of dialogue, introspection, and action, and the action should reveal things about the characters.

All of this talk about writing made me think about digging out a book I started. I got stuck after a few chapters, and I think spending time on the backstory could be one way to revive it.

Suz Q&A: 12:30-2:00 PM
There's a lot to talk about here. Suz answered questions about the next Team 10 book, her writing process, and more. I'll put spoilers in the comments section, so you can decide if you want to read them. I have to admit that I can't quite remember whether some topics were discussed in this session or in Sunday's discussion. I'll do my best, though.

Suz has a separate computer for writing, and she doesn't download anything on this particular computer. It also gets her in a working frame of mind--she uses a specific computer, faces one direction, and sits a certain way when she's writing.

She will write more Team 10 books. The next one is plotted; she just hasn't had the time to write it. She is 150 pages into Breaking Point, Max and Gina's story.

I know I'm forgetting something here, but I'll try to hit everything in Sunday's summary.

Military Romance Discussion: 2:15-3:00 PM
Catherine talked about her books. Her husband is in the Air Force, and he reads her books to check the facts and to ensure that she doesn't inadvertently provide information she shouldn't. One thing I thought was interesting is the fact that Catherine is a more hero-focused writer. In most cases, she starts with her hero and develops the story from there, so the books starting with the heroine (such as Pursued) were more challenging.

I was fascinated by the fact that Catherine writes in three steps. First she writes the dialogue, then she adds the introspection, and then she fills in the action. I can't imagine writing that way, but it's great that it works for her. She has a fast writing pace. She has written 12 books in 2-1/2 years. If you haven't read her stories, I highly recommend them.

Warrior Soul Discussion: 3:00-3:45 PM
Former Navy SEAL Chuck Pfarrer came to talk about his memoir, Warrior Soul. I haven't read the book (yet), but I was interested in his opinions about world events since he's been in combat. He believes Osama bin Laden's roaming ground is getting smaller and that he will be caught.

Bookseller/Book Signing: 3:45-6:00 PM
Borders was there with books by all of the authors to sell. I got in line pretty early, which was nice. I bought Warrior Soul, American Idle, and six of Suz's books I either didn't have or wanted to give as gifts. For each book we bought, we received one raffle ticket. I knew there would be another chance to get books signed on Sunday, so after buying these books, I went back to my room to take a nap. :)

Red Hot Party: 8:00-12:00 AM
Everyone was invited to wear red to the party. There were tables set up around the room, and everyone received a boa and sunglasses. The evening started with a photo opp. Here I am with Suz.



There was a silent auction with proceeds supporting the distribution of One in Eight, an educational documentary film about breast cancer. The auction itself went from 8:00-10:00 PM. The prizes included books (of course), 25-page manuscript evaluations from both Suz and Catherine, book bags, calendars, and the chance to have your name in Suz's next book, Breaking Point. I didn't bid on this one, and it ended up selling for more than $300. I had my name featured in several books for free. :)

I bid on several items and ended up winning three of Suz's out-of-print titles: Freedom's Price, Body Language, and The Kissing Game. I spent more than I normally would for three books--even three out-of-print books--but it was for charity, and I was still well within my budget.

The raffle was held after the auction. With nine tickets (eight for buying books and one for attending), I figured I had a pretty good chance of winning. And I won! One of my numbers was called when there were three prizes left to choose from, so I got an Air Force pin.

Suz graciously signed my books after the raffle. Several times during the weekend, Ed asked who still had backlist books for Suz to sign. They were committed to making sure everyone's books were signed, which I really appreciated. After she finished, I went back to my room to sleep before Sunday, the last day of Target Tampa.

Alyssa

Enter the Mind of an Introvert

I'm about to offer you a glimpse into the mind of this introvert. I mentioned in a previous blog entry that I have to gear up to be social, especially with people I don't know. It also helps when I know what to expect, so I paid close attention to the agenda so I knew when I would meet Suzanne and Catherine, when there would be group activities, and so on.

I arrived in Tampa Thursday night, and Friday morning I looked at the agenda and saw that there was early registration in the hospitality suite. So, I decide to (1) check in, (2) put my scrapbook page in Suz's scrapbook, (3) drop off my books for the book swap, and (4) chat with other attendees. I'm ready, I think. I'm not meeting any authors yet, but I have clear objectives. So I go up to the hospitality suite on the 10th floor. From now on, my thoughts are in italics.

I walk into the room. Uh, there are a lot of people here. I keep walking. Everyone looks busy. Some people are on the computer. A woman comes up to me and asks if I need to check in. "Yes," I say. She asks my name. I tell her, and she looks for my packet. Wow, I really don't know anyone here. In the meantime, I notice a tall man with dark hair talking on a cell phone. Hmmm, he looks familiar . . . wait, I think I've seen his picture on Suz's website. That's her best friend, Eric. I start to look around. I thought I wasn't going to meet any authors yet . . . is Suz in here?

Now, most people would not get nervous at this point. They would simply adjust. However, I do get nervous. I'm not ready, I think. I have my 1-4 list and "meeting authors" is not on it. So I get flustered. I can tell that my face is starting to go red. I get my packet and see a petite woman. Is this Suzanne? It kind of looks like her. Her hair is longer than on her website. She says hi. My clever response? "Hi." And I turn away.

Well, I've checked in, and I desperately try to stick to my original plan. I ask about the scrapbook. Oh boy, only one person has written in it and no one else did a scrapbook page. I've overdone it. I put the page in and ask about the book swap. I go over to a drawer, open it, put in the four books I brought, and grab the two Angela Knight titles (The Forever Kiss and Jane's Warlord).

My face is still red, I think. Time to cut my losses, hope I didn't just completely insult Suz, and get out of here. So I go back to my hotel room thinking that I am a complete dork. I've come all this way and I've already acted stupidly. I sit down, do some deep breathing, and calm down. Just before 2:00 PM (and the start of the day's events), I go up to the 11th floor, where they'll hold the day's main events. Guess who is the first person I see? Eric. He comes up to me and says, "I saw you in the hospitality room earlier but you left before I had a chance to talk to you." I say, "Yes. I had a serious attack of shyness." We laugh, and I'm fine from that point on. The woman who said hi to me wasn't Suz, by the way.

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. Or makes us feel really stupid.

Alyssa

Target Tampa: Friday

The Target Tampa weekend was packed with activities, so I'm going to break them down into smaller sections. Knowing me, though, each day's report will be long. LOL!

Quote of the Day: "Writing is like making your mental illness work for you."
--Suzanne Brockmann, in a discussion about creating characters that come to life

Kickoff Session: 2:00-4:00 PM
Target Tampa officially started on Friday at 2:00 PM. The agenda said backlist signings would start immediately, so I packed my bag with Suzanne Brockmann books and headed to the Bayview One room (where most of the events were held). I arrived a little early, saw that Catherine Mann was also there, so I ran back to my room to get her books, too. When I got back, several people were already in line, so I figured I'd better go while the line was short.

There were about 10 people in front of me. One of them was Cheryl, who flew in from London, England for the event. We had a nice chat about how long we've been reading Suz's books. She had only four books to be signed; she didn't bring all of her collection because she didn't want to lug them around. I noticed that most people had between 7-12 books. I was definitely on the high end. I had 28 books and 1 book on tape for Suz to sign.

The line moved slowly because Suz likes to spend time talking with each person. When I got to the front of the line, it was after 3:00. I introduced myself and gave her a picture I had taken of a street sign near my house. The street is Cosmo Drive. (Cosmo is the hero of Hot Target, so I thought she'd get a kick out of it.) This might be a good time to mention that a Suzanne Brockmann event is probably the one place I can go where (1) people are very likely to remember my name, and (2) they're also able to pronounce it correctly. It was a nice change.

I had my picture taken with her, then we chatted a little about where I was from, how long I've been reading her books, which book I read first, and what I do for a living. She was surprised when I said I had only been reading her books since March 2004, and she asked how many books I read each day. I told her I read more than 300 books last year, so it averaged out to less than one a day. I do read quickly.



I apologized for bringing so many books for her to sign, and she said that there was no reason to apologize for enjoying her books so much that I had bought so many of them. She said, "This is a guilt-free weekend." When my books were signed, I had spent about 15 minutes with her and was thrilled with the opportunity I had to visit with her.

Next, I moved to Catherine Mann's line. Many people had started with her line, so it was shorter at this point. I have all of Catherine's books except one, so I had 10 books for her to sign. When I sat down, she looked at my name tag and said, "Oh, I've seen you on the board." When I was first thinking about attending Target Tampa, I went to Suz's message board and asked how her signings worked, how many books we could bring, and so on. Catherine responded and said she would sign everything I brought. It was really nice that she remembered me.



Anyway, I had my picture taken with her, then she signed my books. I told her how much I loved Taking Cover, and she said that she loved writing it. She had her upcoming release, Explosive Alliance, for sale, and I bought one. Once she had signed everything, it was 4:00.

Movie Club Discussion: 4:00-5:00 PM
Suz talked for an hour about movies, TV, and books she enjoyed. I learned that she started reading about World War II when she was 11, and she read everything she could find. She also talked about how she likes stories with strong friendships. I noticed that she likes sci-fi, such as Star Trek, ST: Next Generation, and Quantum Leap.

Dinner with Suz: 6:00-8:00 PM
People who paid to attend the entire Target Tampa weekend had a meal with Suz and Catherine. I was in the second group, which had dinner with them on Friday. Catherine sat at our table for the first 30 or so minutes, then Suz sat there for the next 30, and Ed (Suz's husband) and Eric (Suz's best friend) for the last 30. This gave us more time with the authors. Catherine asked about what books and TV shows we liked. She also told the story of how she met her husband--they met and were engaged in 10 days! I can't remember what Suz talked about (bad, bad Alyssa!). Ed and Eric entertained us with stories about funny things that have happened during book tours.

Bedtime Stories Party: 8:30-11:30 PM
At 8:30, we were back in Bayview One for the Bedtime Stories party. Many people (myself included) wore PJs. First, Suz did three book readings: one from The Defiant Hero where Sam goes to Alyssa's hotel room to see how she is doing; the second was when Jules confronts Sam in Over the Edge; the third was Tom and Kelly's wedding from Gone Too Far. I loved hearing her read her work--it was interesting to see what words she emphasized. BTW, she pronounces "Starrett" as "Stare-et," not "Star-ret."

Next was a parody of the first six Troubleshooters books, acted by Ed, Eric, Suz (as herself), Catherine, and several volunteers. This was pretty funny and had us all laughing. Ed, as Tom, had a bandage wrapped around his head. Eric played Sam, and I loved his poem, which I can quote verbatim: "F__k, f__k, f__k, f__k, f__k." Ah yes, that's Sam.

After the parody, we were divided into groups and awarded raffle tickets based on our creative answers to trivia questions such as, "Which SEAL would be most likely to wear Spider-man pajamas as a boy, and why?" Then they held a drawing for prizes, including audio versions of Hot Target (a popular choice), selected titles from Suz and Catherine's backlist, calendars, CDs, and more. The first person whose number was called got to pick what she wanted, then the second, and so on.

After they called about 10 numbers, I realized that the person next to me, Heather M, had the latest number, since it was one digit away from mine. I turned to her and said, "It's you!" She told me that I could have the ticket. We debated back and forth for about 10 seconds until I took the ticket and picked Letters from Kelly. I'm still not sure why she let me have the prize, but it was very kind of her to do so. [Edited: Heather says she let me have the ticket because she had already won something at a previous book signing, and she wanted to "share the wealth." Thanks, Heather!]

The raffle ended, and Suz signed the book for me. Then it was time to get some sleep before Saturday's activities.

Alyssa

I Hate My Camera

I just picked up my Target Tampa photos--I had them developed with one-hour service rather than the send-out service I typically use. I had fuzzy photos at Christmastime but thought I would simply need to make sure I used fresh batteries.

Nope.

About 80% of the pictures turned out fuzzy. I'm happy to say that the portrait-style pictures turned out well. But anything with action has problems. It's so sad!

Now I have two broken cameras. Ugh.

Alyssa

Invitation

I checked my e-mail, and I've been invited to be a columnist for a new site, Romancing the Blog. I'm intrigued by the idea, but too swamped with work at the moment to make a decision. I'm going to give this some thought. Are there any columnists out there who can tell me what you've been asked to do?

Alyssa

I'm Back

I returned to Utah a little over an hour ago. After seven hours on an airplane (more if you count driving and layover time), I'm glad to be back on the ground again. I had a wonderful time in Tampa. The trip far exceeded my expectations. After I get some rest, I'll write about the experience in more detail.

Now I'm off to collapse.

Alyssa

The Heartbreak Kid

Grrr. I just lost a blog entry. I guess that's what happens when I don't type it in Word, then do a copy and paste. Live and learn, but still . . . grrrr.

I finished The Heartbreak Kid by Alison Kent, and I enjoyed it very much. The hero of this book is the brother of the hero in Call Me, which received a 4 out of 5. The Heartbreak Kid also receives a 4, though I liked it a bit better. One thing I like about Kent is that her adults act like adults--they think and talk things through when they need to.

This will probably be my last blog entry before I leave for Tampa. The end of packing is finally in sight, and tonight I received some last-minute FAQs from the event organizer. One answer explains the best time to bring your books to have them signed, especially if you have more than 10. Um, that would be me. I can't wait to see what kind of reaction I get when my book suitcase goes through security and the x-ray (or whatever) machine.

I made a scrapbook page for Suzanne Brockmann's guestbook; the tags hanging out of the envelope can be pulled out, and I wrote messages on them. I also had some pictures developed. Now you can see my poor rear-ended car and the rental I'm currently driving.

I expect to be back online next Tuesday or Wednesday, and I'm sure I'll have a lot to report. Until then, happy reading!

Alyssa

Progress

I'm making some headway in my goals for the week. I finished two reviews for The Romance Reader, and I found a few more books I plan to take with me (what were they doing under my bed?). I may pack a few more things tonight, but then I'm going to bed. I'm hoping that a few hours of sleep will make me less likely to knock my head against the wall when I think of all the work projects I still have to do.

Alyssa

In a Rental

I finally took my car to get repaired after facing the fact that no one was going to walk up to me and say, "I can fix your car for half the price of the check you got from the insurance company." Self-delusions can be fun, but I'm ready to have a car with a working trunk.

Anyway, I went in to have the repair company assess the damage and determine what parts they would need to order. Instead, I discovered that my car is unsafe to drive. Apparently the fact that the lights are falling off is a bit of a problem. So now I'm in a rental car, courtesy of the other driver's insurance. It's a nice car, but I'm especially excited about the fact that I won't have to retape the trunk closed when it rains or snows.

Alyssa

Preparing to Be an Extrovert

I leave for Tampa in four days--I haven't figured out where the time went, but perhaps that's not surprising since I'm still amazed that it's 2005. In between all of my packing (I have one suitcase with only books!), I'm trying to finish two book reviews so I don't have to worry about them when I return.

I am also gearing up to be social. I'm a natural introvert; large social gatherings tend to be daunting, especially when I don't really know anyone. It helps that I have the agenda, so I know which times are likely to be more social than others. I can mix and mingle, but it doesn't come naturally when I'm with larger groups of people. I do much better in smaller groups.

I had a moment of panic this afternoon when I realized how much work I need to get done before I leave. I may panic again when I get to work tomorrow and see my inbox. Good thing I started packing early; I may be chained to my desk at work for the next three days.

Alyssa

Educating Caroline

Last year taught me that I can depend on Meg Cabot for an entertaining read. Educating Caroline (using the name Patricia Cabot) did nothing to disprove this theory: 4 out of 5.

When Caroline Lindon walks in on her fiance when he's having sex with another woman, she decides to take action. Her mother tells her that men have mistresses, but Caroline wants him to love and want only her. She approaches Braden Granville, a famous womanizer who needs information only she has. Braden will teach her how to keep a man interested, and she will testify about his fiancee's infidelity so he can avoid a breach of promise suit. Neither Caroline nor Braden expects to fall in love with each other.

Caroline is a delightful and refreshing heroine. While innocent, she is also spunky. I like how she decides to take a proactive approach with her problem. In a contemporary romance, she would kick him to the curb. As this is a historical romance, she doesn't take this approach, but this was understandable. There is an interesting moment toward the end of the book when Caroline realizes that she wasn't as upset with her fiance as she should have been because she didn't really love him.

Braden is a type of hero I love. He may start as "a Don Juan," but he falls hard for Caroline. A self-made businessman, Braden is also honorable in ways that Caroline's noble fiance isn't. I like his persistence, too.

There's not as much humor in Educating Caroline as there is in some of Cabot's other books, but there are some funny moments. All in all, this was a worthwhile read.

Alyssa

A Secret Passion

I finished Sophia Nash's debut book last night, and while it was rough in spots, it was still enjoyable. A Secret Passion: 3 out of 5.

Widow Jane Lovering has a problem--her father needs money and plans to get it by marrying her off to a wealthy man. Jane knows he's capable of doing this; he's already done it once. Although Jane was fond of her husband, she refuses to place herself at the mercy of a domineering man such as her father or the man he wants her to marry.

When Jane goes to stay with her aunt, she meets Rolfe St. James, Earl of Graystock. She finds herself inexplicably attracted to him, but she fears that he is the kind of man she wants to avoid. For his part, Rolfe wants to have an affair with the widow; he isn't interested in marriage.

Jane and Rolfe are interesting, introspective, and complex characters. I enjoyed reading both perspectives. Jane has a blind spot about strong-willed men, and Rolfe tends to be strong-willed, which creates conflict and makes the characters more real.

The main challenge with this book is its tendency to make quick jumps. I was surprised by how quickly Rolfe falls in love with Jane, or perhaps with how quickly he realizes it. The way it's described seems abrupt. Later in the story, Jane's father changes his feelings quite quickly. This made some parts of the book seem unrealistic.

A Secret Passion is a solid debut, and I look forward to trying her next book.

Alyssa

Oh No! I'm a Fan!

Sometimes following a message board thread is like watching an accident unfold. You know you shouldn't keep watching and it gets worse as time passes, but you just can't look away.

I've been following the thread I mention in this blog entry, and I've made a shocking discovery. To provide some history: someone in this thread pointed out that a former reviewer posted at an author's message board. Apparently this fact automatically dooms a reviewer's credibility.

Uh oh. Here comes my whispered confession: I am a fan. Oh, the horror!

You might have guessed this already, since I flew to Maryland last year to meet Nora Roberts, and I've mentioned my upcoming trip to Tampa to meet Suzanne Brockmann. According to this poster's logic, this means my reviews are no longer credible.

Last year, when I was preparing for my Maryland trip and (gasp!) posting on Nora Roberts's message board, I considered the potential conflict of interest. What I decided was that I wouldn't ask to review books by Nora Roberts or Suzanne Brockmann. But I won't send a book back if it shows up in my review package. Since I'm not being paid to write reviews, and I'm completely capable of judging a book on its own merits (regardless of author), I think that's sufficient.

And is it just me, or is there something big brother-ish about the fact that someone would remember a reviewer's messages on an author's message board? Especially in this case, when the former reviewer claims to have posted there several months ago.

This topic has apparently hit a nerve, since I can't seem to stop writing about it. Oh well. I'm looking forward to the weekend. I must start packing for my fan trip to Tampa.

Alyssa

Reading Decisions

I've been having a hard time deciding what to read since the new year began. I don't know why. For the past day or so, I've been reading Twice Burned by Jan Coffey. Nothing is really wrong with it, but I'm not in the mood to read it, so I've set it aside for now. (Come to think of it, I did that before with Borrowed Dreams [by the same author] and still ended up liking the book. So maybe that is a pattern for me with this author.)

Instead, I'm starting Sophia Nash's A Secret Passion. I've had it for a while, but it was buried under some other books. I'm hoping it will get me back into the reading groove.

Alyssa

Catalog, Anyone?

I sell candles through a company named Northern Lights at Home (NLAH). I received the company's monthly newsletter yesterday, and new catalogs are coming out in a month. I still have several of the 2004 catalogs that I'd like to send out if you're interested. I don't want them to go to waste, and they will if I keep them in a pile in my office.

So, if you'd like to get one, please let me know. (Limit one per person, please.) I'll leave an e-mail address in the comments section so you can send me your mailing address that way. Or you can leave your address in the comments section. I'll pay the shipping if you live in the US; if not, I'll cover the US shipping amount if you cover the rest. (Unfortunately, NLAH doesn't sell outside of the US yet, so take that into account as you decide whether to get a catalog.)

Alyssa

Credible Reviews

I've been reading an interesting message board thread about book reviews, reviewers, and credibility. As someone who has been writing book reviews for a year and a half and reading reviews for longer than that, this is what I know about reviews.

They are subjective.

All that any reviewer can do is read the book, decide how much (or little) she likes it, and explain the reasons behind her decision. If she does that, she's done her job. Each reviewer has her own perspective and her own biases. A writer may like a particular author, like Suzanne Brockmann. She might dislike a particular author. She may have political leanings or religious affiliations (or not). She may dislike books that use a certain kind of plot (secret baby, for instance). She may get frustrated by certain types of heroines. Everyone has preferences.

However, "preferences" don't mean that a reviewer isn't credible. Every review reflects the reviewer's perspective. The phrase "objective review" is a contradiction.

Now, the reviewer can help the reader by pointing out a particular perspective. The reviewer of the book under discussion states, "I love her [Suzanne Brockmann]; I think she's the most consistently entertaining romance author around. That's not to say that I think her books are flawless. Hot Target is a good example of a Brockmann book that I loved in spite of its flaws." Right away, anyone reading this review knows that the reviewer likes Brockmann and can take that fact into account when reading the review. But reviewers who read a new-to-her author will still provide a subjective opinion.

There's a similar caveat in my review of Hot Target: "As for the subplot with gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, I'll admit it pushed me right out of my comfort zone." Phrases like this in a review actually help the reader, because she can say to herself, "I'm perfectly comfortable with a romantic gay subplot, so I might like that part more than the reviewer."

Or, to give another example, a review might say, "I don't usually enjoy the secret baby plot . . ." Once again, this kind of statement allows the reader to decide how much weight to give the review. If she loves secret baby plots, she might disregard the comments; if she hates this plot, she knows she is more likely to agree with the review.

Reviews that seem less credible to me are the ones that provide no reasons for the reviewer's opinion. These reviews may be of the "This book sucks!!!!" variety, but that isn't always the case. A review may seem contradictory, such as one that describes several things the reviewer enjoyed about the book and then give it a 2 or 3 out of 5. Or she might give a book 4 or 5, yet not explain what she likes about it. These reviews are the ones I have problems with.

If a review gives some kind of rating and offers a solid explanation for the opinion, then the reviewer has done well. Simple disagreement with a review doesn't make it less credible.

Alyssa

Not Quite As Advertised

I just finished Tanya Michaels' Not Quite As Advertised. It's from the Harlequin Flipside line, and while I liked it, I didn't love it: 3 out of 5.

Jocelyn (Joss) works at an advertising agency. Her ex-boyfriend Hugh works at a rival agency. Shortly after Hugh wins a presigious award for an advertising campaign, the two agencies merge, so Joss and Hugh must figure out how to work together. And how to avoid the attraction that still simmers between them.

The conflict in Not Quite As Advertised focuses on issues. Joss is a perfectionist, while Hugh has made a conscious decision to stop making work the focus of his life. I usually enjoy books with internal conflicts, but in this case there is so much talk about them and the resolution seems anticlimactic and a little too pat.

In addition, Hugh mentions several times that Joss brings out his competitive nature, so I couldn't quite believe that they would be a good couple. I liked both characters but wish their realizations had had more impact.

Alyssa

Eyes in Many Colors

I was out running errands at lunchtime when I got a call that my colored contacts were in. I stopped by to pick them up, and now I'm wearing turquoise. The other colors I got: blue, green, honey, and amethyst. I bought so many boxes that I qualify for a rebate, and I also received sample contacts in pure hazel and true sapphire.

I'm surprised by how realistic the turquoise ones look. It's from a "Blends" line, which means it blends with my naturally brown eyes. Sounds weird, I know, but it really works. Now I just have to get contact lens cases for each eye color. LOL!

Alyssa

What Do You Mean, I Have to Work?

Today was my first day back at work after the holidays, and it was difficult. I got used to being lazy and not worrying about what time it is. It's not exactly bad to be back at work, just challenging. (Is it the weekend yet?)

I forgot to post my second Lord of the Rings autograph after I watched part two of the extended version of Return of the King. Here's Elijah Wood.

And here are a few scrapbook pages. The publications department at work went to see Beauty and the Beast. I commemorated the occasion by making these scrapbook pages.

Party, Page 1
Party, Page 2

I'm gearing myself up to dive back into work tomorrow, but there is some consolation. I leave for Tampa in 10 days.

Alyssa

Bite

I rang in the new year by reading Bite, a vampire anthology with stories from Laurell K. Hamilton, Charlaine Harris, MaryJanice Davidson, Angela Knight, and Vickie Taylor. All in all, an excellent collection: 4 out of 5.

"The Girl Who Was Infatuated with Death" by Laurell K. Hamilton
I confess: I didn't read it. I haven't read any of the Anita Blake series, and since this short story takes place between two books in the series, I figured this wouldn't be a good place to start. (As long as I'm confessing, I'll also add that I don't think I will read any of her books. They don't sound like my thing.)

"One Word Answer" by Charlaine Harris
It was nice to see Sookie again. I enjoyed this story, but it wouldn't be the best introduction to the series. There's simply not enough room to do justice to the characters. I'm impressed with Harris's ability to write an interesting little mystery in so few pages, though. It also made me excited to read the next full-length book in the series, Dead As a Doornail. But I have to wait until May . . .

"Biting in Plain Sight" by MaryJanice Davidson
This story revisits the world of Betsy and Sinclair, though they are secondary characters. The main characters are refreshingly different from Davidson's usual snarky heroine and hero, which isn't to say they are short on pluck. Sophie and Liam go on the hunt for a vampire who enjoys breaking women's hearts and driving them to suicide.

"Galahad" by Angela Knight
Finally, a story I really, really like by Angela Knight. I was beginning to think she was one of those writers that I just wasn't getting. This story is beautiful. I think it's partly because Caroline is already a Maja when the story starts. Readers who are familiar with Knight's work will know what I mean when I say that skipping this part gives the story and the characters a bit more freedom. Caroline and Galahad are well matched. This is my favorite story in the book.

"Blood Lust" by Vickie Taylor
This is the first time I've read a story by Vickie Taylor, and it's a strong and interesting one. Daniel needs the help of vampire Deadre to fulfill his plot of revenge. In the process, they fall in love.

If you enjoy vampire stories, you'll find a lot to like here.

Alyssa

Top Five Sweetest Moments

Writing my reading year-in-review made me think about some of my favorite moments in romance novels. Here are my top five sweetest moments. They are not limited to books I read in 2004 nor are they in any particular order. Be warned that there are spoilers ahead.

Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
At first glance, Eve and Roarke are an odd couple--she's a cop while he's a former criminal; he's suave and sophisticated while she's moody and terse. In the end, though, it's hearts that matter, and Roarke and Eve's hearts are made for each other. This sweet moment comes after Roarke and Eve have argued about the fact that most people think she's not his type.

For once, he slept first. She lay in the dark, listening to him breathe, stealing a little of his warmth as her own body cooled. Since he was asleep, she stroked his hair.

"I love you," she murmured. "I love you so much, I'm stupid about it."

With a sigh, she settled down, closed her eyes, and willed her mind to empty.

Beside her, Roarke smiled into the dark.

He never slept first.

It Must Be Love by Rachel Gibson
Gabrielle and Joe are another apparent odd couple: she's a mystical new-ager while he's a pragmatic cop. When Gabrielle tells him that he is her "yang," her soulmate, he backs off in a big way. When Joe realizes that he loves her, he has some explaining to do first:

"I know that I really hurt you, but don't you think that maybe we can call a truce? Maybe we're even now?" He slid his palm down her arm and grasped her hand. "Don't you think it's time that you let me make it up to you?" He pulled something from his pocket and pressed a metal disk into her palm. "I am the other half of your soul," he said. "And you are the other half of my soul. Together we make each other whole."

Gabrielle opened her hand and looked down at the flat black-and-white pendant suspended from a silver chain. The yin and yang. He understood.

"The Nekkid Truth" by Nicole Camden
Debbie loves Marshall but she has a unique problem. A car accident resulted in a physical condition that makes her unable to recognize people's faces. She shares her doubts with him about whether the relationship can really work:

"I'm thinking about a question I asked my best friend, the morning after you told me you wanted to be with me."

"What was that?"

"I asked her how it could really be love, when I'll never recognize your face. I'll never be able to look at you across a crowded room and know your thoughts just by the look on your face. You'll never look in my eyes and see that recognition, that joyous connection that says I belong to you."

"You're wrong about that. You might not recognize it, but I want you to know that the look you see on my face right now--that's love." He gave me a squeeze. "And the look on your face, that's love, too. It's there, even if you can't ever see it."

Off Limits by Michele Albert
Bobby Halloran is used to women's attention, but they're often attracted to his looks, his skill in the bedroom, or the work he does. Emma Frey is different--she's attracted to Bobby, the man. One evening, they are together and Bobby tells her that tonight's lovemaking is lady's choice. Her reply:

"Once the newness of me and you wears off and I don't want to jump you right that very second every time I see you, I'll be happy to check out all the special features of the Bobby Halloran show."

He laughed, though a little embarrassed, as she added softly, "But right now, I want you to make love to me. I want you to hold me, and I want to kiss you and watch your face . . . I just want to be with you."

Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann
Sam and Alyssa's relationship has been developing over five books when they finally take center stage in Gone Too Far. As they discuss some of the challenges they face, they talk about Sam's daughter, Haley.

"I'm going to love Haley," Alyssa said. "Because she's not responsible for Mary Lou's mistakes, or your mistakes, or my mistakes. And I'm going to love her twice as much because she's yours. But you need to know, Sam--I'm not going to take care of her for you. When she's with you, she's with you. I'll help, and I'll be her favorite aunt Alyssa. I'm good at that. But if you really want her in your life, you're going to have to be her father for real."

"That's, um, some of the best news I've had all day--the fact that you seem okay with the idea of spending time with me and Haley." He glanced at her again. And then, almost as an afterthought, he matter-of-factly added, "I love you so much, Lys, sometimes it takes my breath away."

Honorable Mention: The Shaughnessey Accord by Alison Kent
After being held hostage for hours, secret agent Tripp Shaughnessey and Glory Brighton make the most of their newfound freedom by spending the next several days together.

Cliche or not, their time together had been the best of her life. He was fun. And funny. Making her laugh about things she'd never taken the time to look at before. . . . Even over the way she liked to spoon backward when they slept, tucking her knees behind his thighs and pulling his back to her chest. He said the whole point of spooning was for her to feel safe in his arms while she slept. At which point she reminded him she'd been sleeping alone for a whole lotta years, and liked the idea of being the one to offer haven to a man taking on too much of the world alone.

He'd cuddled back closer, then. Made sure they were touching everywhere possible.

Well, these are my favorite moments. Do you have favorite sweet moments? Feel free to share them in the comments section.

Alyssa