Harlequin Marathon, Continued

My plan for March was to read a book from as many Harlequin/Silhouette lines as possible. I'm not doing so well--I think I'm going to continue this in April. In any case, here's my latest update, with the books I've read marked in bold.

• Dawn Atkins: Wedding for One/Tattoo for Two (Harlequin Duets)
• Jessica Bird: Beauty and the Black Sheep (Silhouette Special Edition)
• Donna Clayton: Thunder in the Night (Silhouette Romance)
• Justine Davis: Midnight Seduction (Silhouette Desire)
• Janelle Denison, Tori Carrington, and Leslie Kelly: That's Amore (Signature Select Collection)
• Pamela Ford: Dear Cordelia (Harlequin Superromance)
• Virginia Kantra's Stolen Memory: 4 out of 5 (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
• Reading now: Leslie Kelly: Her Last Temptation (Harlequin Temptation)
• Alison Kent's Kiss & Makeup: 4 out of 5 (Harlequin Blaze)
• Miranda Lee's Fugitive Bride: 3.5 out of 5 (Harlequin Presents)
• Jo Leigh: Not-So-Secret Baby (Harlequin Intrigue)
• Tanya Michaels' Spicing It Up: 4 out of 5 (Harlequin Flipside)
• Mary Schramski: What to Keep (Harlequin Next)
• Gena Showalter: Jewel of Atlantis: 4 out of 5 (HQN)
• Deborah Simmons: The Squire's Daughter: 4 out of 5 (Harlequin Historical).

Most of the books I've read are 4 out of 5, which is pretty good. Hopefully the record will continue.

Champagne Rules

I kept being drawn toward Champagne Rules by Susan Lyons during trips to the bookstore. After reading the review of it by Paperback Reader, I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, because the book is very good: 4 out of 5.

When Suzanne Brennan met Jaxon Navarre, she had yet to experience the ultimate in pleasure . . . but his tender initiation made her wildest dreams come true. Their brief, passionate affair had nothing at all to do with . . . forever. Four years later, the same rules apply. Keep it light. Keep it simple. And keep it sexy. Very, very sexy. In Jax's bed, Suzanne finds that desire goes deeper than she ever imagined and erotic pleasure has a whole new meaning. But when it comes right down to it, she's ready to break every rule in the book for him . . .

The story starts in Crete, where Suzanne and Jaxon meet on the beach and subsequently find a cave where they have sex. They don't exchange names or numbers, they just spend an afternoon together, then walk away.

Four years pass, but Jaxon and Suzanne haven't forgotten about each other. Suzanne finally decides to post an online ad to try and find her one-time lover, and Jaxon finds it because he has been searching the Web regularly to try and track her down.

What follows is a reunion that starts as a continuation of their previous affair, but which ultimately grows into something more. It's this process that I found most interesting. They start with what Suzanne calls the Champagne Rules--they'll meet on occasion and enjoy each other, just as you would enjoy the occasional champagne.

Jaxon is focused on his career and doesn't think he has time for a real relationship. Suzanne wants to get married and have a steady home life, and doesn't think she can have one with her fantasy man. But their feelings for each other soon overcome their plans.

I like the characters--Suzanne and Jaxon struck me as very real people. At times I thought there was a little too much interaction with the friends. Suzanne's circle of friends helped distinguish her as a person, but they also dominated the story at times. Still, I enjoyed Champagne Rules and would definitely recommend it. I plan to pick up Lyons's next story.

Whirlwind

If there is one word that describes this month, it's whirlwind. A month ago I was still waiting to hear about a writing contest I entered. Since then, I revised the story, submitted it somewhere else, had it accepted, signed a contract, filled out a bunch of paperwork, and had a cover created. It honestly doesn't seem like all this could be possible since March 1, but that's what's happened.

These days I'm feeling slightly schizophrenic. I'm trying to do everything I've been doing in months past, and it just isn't working. Something's got to give. I'm already reading considerably less than I used to, although I still read a few books a week. I'm going to give my commitments some serious thought so I can decide what to drop. I won't drop this blog (I've got a few blog entries saved as drafts; I just need to finish them), and I won't stop writing. I'm also committed to continuing my writing blog and writing for the Cobblestone Press blog. Everything else I need to think about.

So, here's today's thought question: when you have a lot to do and not enough hours to do it in, how do you decide what to let go of? And what techniques do you use to manage your time?

Four

I'm very belatedly responding to Keishon's tag. It's been a busy week, so I decided to complete this over the weekend.

Four Jobs You Have Had in Your Life
My first job ever was at McDonald's. Eek!
In college, I worked as a sales clerk at Casual Corner (a clothing store).
After college, I taught English at a local community college.
Right now, I am a writer and editor at a craft-selling company.

Four Movies You Watch Over and Over
The Lord of the Rings trilogy (sorry, but I'm counting this as one)
Pride & Prejudice (the latest version)
Memento
The End of the Affair

Four Places You Have Lived
Salt Lake City, Utah
Provo, Utah
Manhattan, Kansas
West Jordan, Utah

Four TV Shows You Love to Watch (You might see a theme here)
Medium
Unsolved Mysteries
Cold Case Files
The Investigators

Four Places You Have Been on Vacation
New York City
San Diego
Tampa
Reno

Four Websites You Visit Daily
Kinja, to check out whatever blogs have been updated
E-mail Account #1
E-mail Account #2
Romance Divas

Four Favorite Foods
Ice cream
Pizza
French bread
Donuts

Four Places You'd Rather Be Right Now
In bed, asleep
In England
Being proposed to by a multimillionaire
Finishing my latest story (better get writing)

When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys

I don't usually whine, but occasionally something good comes of it. I whined on Sybil's blog a while back when she talked about reading When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys, and HelenKay Dimon graciously offered to send me a copy.

Lori Foster, "Playing Doctor"
Attitude makes a huge difference in bed. It could be Axel Dean's motto. The sexy physician likes his women with sensual moxie, and Libby Preston definitely seems to fit that bill. There's the naughty grin. That hot bod. Her eager kisses and cheeky insults. Her . . . admitted virginity. Whoa. Okay, cue cold shower. Axel may not be an honorable man, but he has his limits. Except Libby won't take no for an answer. She's determined to have someone show her what she's been missing, and suddenly, Axel can't bear to think of Libby playing doctor with anyone else . . .

Erin McCarthy, "The Lady of the Lake"
Pro baseball player Dylan Diaz is pretty sure he's going to hell. When you rescue a drowning woman from a lake your first thought should be, "Are you okay?" not, "Can I make mad, passionate love to you?" But the minute sputtering kindergarten teacher Violet Caruthers is on Dylan's boat, that's all he can think about. Maybe it's the potent combo of a nun's personality inside a stripper's body. Maybe it's the way she drives him crazy with desire and laughter. Or maybe, Dylan's finally found what's been missing in his life, and he's not about to let go . . .

HelenKay Dimon, "Hardhats and Silk Stockings"
Hannah Bridges is the most infuriating woman architect Whit Thomas has ever met--and the sexiest. If he could just get the tough contractor to stop proving himself at every turn, they might have time to discuss more important things, like his hands on her . . . blueprints. What Hannah needs right now is a night of pure bliss that's all about her: no regrets, no control, no limits. Now, in a private room where pleasure is the only goal, Hannah is about to receive a delicious education in total ecstasy . . .

I have to admit that Lori Foster is a hit and miss author for me. In this case, "Playing Doctor" was a hit: 4 out of 5. This story works mainly because of Axel--the man falls for Libby and he falls hard. When written well, this scenario is a joy to read. For the most part, "Playing Doctor" is fairly joyful.

Libby and Axel get involved very quickly, which isn't surprising given the fact that it's a novella. What's a little more surprising is that they hadn't met beforehand, although she knows who he is.

The back cover gives away the fact that Libby is a virgin. She didn't seem unrealistic, though, which can happen with virginal heroines. And she doesn't stay one for long.

Erin McCarthy's "The Lady of the Lake" is the second story. I don't think it's a huge secret that I love McCarthy's books, and this story is another winner. I want to know how she does it--she has such a gift with humor, and she starts the story with Violet falling off the back of her boyfriend's boat. He doesn't notice, but the situation as McCarthy describes it makes it funny:

Violet Caruthers had known that Frank wasn't the most attentive of boyfriends. But if she had been asked, she would have thought that even he would have noticed that his girlfriend had fallen off the back of his fishing boat.

She would have been wrong.

From there, Violet is rescued by Dylan, who is instantly taken with her. This is another story where the man falls hard, and I really enjoyed it. It's interesting to note that Violet and Dylan meet for the first time in this story just as Libby and Axel did in the previous one. It works better here, and it's hard to explain why.

Violet has an interesting goal, which Dylan agrees to pretty quickly. I'm not sure if anyone but McCarthy could have pulled this one off, but it's great: 4.5 out of 5.

"Hardhats and Silk Stockings" by HelenKay Dimon concludes the anthology. I'm a big fan of role-reversal stories; in this case, the heroine does construction. I'm no expert, but the setting and situations seemed realistic to me. In some stories, the way a character's work is described ends up being jarring and unrealistic. That wasn't the case here. Nothing like that pulled me out of the story.

Hannah is pitch-perfect as a woman who conceals her body because of the field she's in and who conceals her heart because someone close to her has hurt her. I thought she held out just a little too long, but it made sense in context.

Whit is terrific, a man who knows who he wants and pursues her. Some might view him as calculating, but I saw it as knowing Hannah--she wouldn't have responded to conventional wooing, so he tries something a little unconventional. ;) All in all, a strong story: 4.5 out of 5.

About My Reviews

I have been reviewing books for The Romance Reader since 2003 and writing additional reviews on my blog since 2004.

On March 13, 2006, my first book was contracted by Cobblestone Press, and because I am now a soon-to-be-published author as well as a reader, I want to clarify my opinions about reviewing.

I will never praise a book I don't really enjoy. I will never criticize a book for reasons besides not liking the story. I'm proud of my reviews and don't plan to take a different approach when writing them.

The one thing that will change is that I won't review books by other Cobblestone Press authors or publishers here. If I talk about them, I'll do so at my author blog at http://liasebastian.blogspot.com. Even there, though, I won't recommend a book I don't like.

This short explanation of my approach to reviewing should help you know what to expect, but feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Another One Bites the Dust

I'm still recovering from the news that Media Play was closing. It's now closed, and I've missed making two or three trips there a month. Now I buy books from Amazon, but I also stop at a local Borders and Waldenbooks. After work today, I went to Waldenbooks and saw that the store is closing. Ack!

I guess it's understandable, since Borders is right across the street. But I hate to see any bookstore close.

News

I got some exciting news tonight. Here's a little hint.



You can read about it here.

Harlequin Marathon

As I previously mentioned, this month I'm reading a book from as many Harlequin/Silhouette lines as I can. Here's an update, with the books I've read marked in bold. I've also added a few books to the list.

• Dawn Atkins: Wedding for One/Tattoo for Two (Harlequin Duets)
• Jessica Bird: Beauty and the Black Sheep (Silhouette Special Edition)
• Donna Clayton: Thunder in the Night (Silhouette Romance)
• Justine Davis: Midnight Seduction (Silhouette Desire)
• Janelle Denison, Tori Carrington, and Leslie Kelly: That's Amore (Signature Select Collection)
• Pamela Ford: Dear Cordelia (Harlequin Superromance)
• Virginia Kantra: Stolen Memory (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
• Leslie Kelly: Her Last Temptation (Harlequin Temptation)
• Reading now: Alison Kent: Kiss & Makeup (Harlequin Blaze)
• Miranda Lee: Fugitive Bride (Harlequin Presents)
• Jo Leigh: Not-So-Secret Baby (Harlequin Intrigue)
• Susan Mallery: There's Always Plan B (Harlequin Next)
• Tanya Michaels: Spicing It Up (Harlequin Flipside)
• Gena Showalter: Jewel of Atlantis (HQN)
• Deborah Simmons: The Squire's Daughter (Harlequin Historical)

Must get reading.

Legendary Tails IV

Ellora's Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV was one of the freebies I received when I attended the Utah RWA Conference last month. There are six stories in the anthology, so I won't post the blurbs here, but I really, really liked the stories in this book: 4.5 out of 5.

The first story in the book was the one I read last--I was a bit turned off by the title: Orgasm Fairy by Ashleigh Raine. I figured the story would be about endless orgasming (read: no plot), but I'm pleased to report there is a fun story here. The bad poetry at the poetry reading made me laugh: "Only I can fertilize the swollen berries of her womanhood. . . ." It's not from the hero or heroine, by the way. Orgasm Fairy doesn't take itself too seriously and readers who want something light should enjoy it too: 4 out of 5.

Next is Marly Chance's Overcome. This story brings two former partners back together again. This story has a little of everything--suspense, adventure, and romance. I like stories where one character has to develop trust, and this is an issue in Overcome. I only wish the story were longer; there's a lot packed in these pages: 4 out of 5.

Secrets We Keep by Mandy M. Roth is the third story about two longterm friends who finally give in to what they feel for each other. I tend to have mixed reactions to alpha heroes; sometimes they border on overbearing. Dane's definitely an alpha, but I love him anyway because of how much he loves Trish and wants to protect her: 4.5 out of 5.

The next story is A Love Eternal by N.J. Walters. This story is completely fascinating, partly because of the world Walters creates. With a title like A Love Eternal, I expected a vampire romance. That's not what this is. I very much enjoyed this story of two lonely people who find love and hope in each other: 4.5 out of 5.

The fifth story is Ravyn Wilde's Keeper of Tomorrows. Like Walters, Wilde offers a unique spin on the paranormal. Although I found it surprising that the heroine responded so well to a certain transformation--I thought she might have needed more time to get used to it--the rest of the characterization made up for it: 4.5 out of 5.

Jaid Black's Seeds of Yesterday concludes the anthology and was perhaps the biggest surprise of the book. I had heard things about Black's work that made me think it would be hardcore BDSM. It wasn't. Don't get me wrong--it's plenty explicit, but there's a strong romance to ground the story. Reading this story brought tears to my eyes more than once, and I've read Seeds of Yesterday twice more since the first time. 5 out of 5.

Contest Winners

My apologies for the belated posting of the contest winners. Here they are at last!

BJ
Kim W
Kristie

I will contact you, but you're also welcome to e-mail me your address: alyssa @ scrapseasons.com (just delete the spaces).

My reason for being late is work. It's been a bear lately; the busy season has hit. Still, I'm grateful that things aren't nearly as bad as they were at this time last year. I don't mind working the occasional overtime, but consistently working 60-70 hour weeks isn't something I can do again. (Since I'm a salary employee, I didn't even get to enjoy extra money.) It's just too difficult.

Anyway, if my posts are infrequent, that's why. I will try to post more frequently, though. I've been a book review slacker lately and must do better.

Harlequin, Harlequin Everywhere

I've accepted a challenge to read at least one book in as many Harlequin/Silhouette lines as possible this month. If I succeed, I will read 13 books from my TBR shelves this month. Here's what I've selected:

• Jessica Bird: Beauty and the Black Sheep (Silhouette Special Edition)
• Donna Clayton: Thunder in the Night (Silhouette Romance)
• Justine Davis: Midnight Seduction (Silhouette Desire)
• Janelle Denison, Tori Carrington, and Leslie Kelly: That's Amore (Signature Select Collection)
• Pamela Ford: Dear Cordelia (Harlequin Superromance)
• Virginia Kantra: Stolen Memory (Silhouette Intimate Moments)
• Leslie Kelly: Her Last Temptation (Harlequin Temptation)
• Alison Kent: Kiss & Makeup (Harlequin Blaze)
• Miranda Lee: Fugitive Bride (Harlequin Presents)
• Jo Leigh: Not-So-Secret Baby (Harlequin Intrigue)
• Susan Mallery: There's Always Plan B (Harlequin Next)
• Tanya Michaels: Spicing It Up (Harlequin Flipside)
• Deborah Simmons: The Squire's Daughter (Harlequin Historical)

I've read Fugitive Bride already and have started Stolen Memory. Still, I have a fair amount of reading ahead of me. Anyone want to take up the challenge with me?

In other news: check out my new website!

February Reviews

Here are links to my February reviews for The Romance Reader:

Close to Perfect
Stuck in Shangri-La
Virgin for Sale

In other news, I've extended my contest a few more days. There are three prizes and two entries, so your chances of winning are good . . . as long as you enter.

TBR Challenge: Secrets of a Summer Night

I'm pleased to say that I've already completed this month's TBR challenge.

Title
Secrets of a Summer Night

Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their
feminine wit and wiles to catch a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.

Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing--and persistent--admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistable pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skilled seduction.

Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entire a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon--and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

Author
Lisa Kleypas

Year Published
2004

Why did you get this book?
I like Lisa Kleypas, so I ordered this last year when she did a signing through Turn the Page bookstore.

Do you like the cover?
It's OK. Not bad, but not especially memorable either.

Did you enjoy the book?
Yes, although my feelings about the book are similar to what I thought about the cover. It's a good book, but isn't quite great. I like both Annabelle and Simon, but Annabelle spends a lot of time reminiscing in the later part of the story, and this slowed down the pace a bit. I think I would have liked it more had these scenes been shown instead of remembered.

I enjoyed the interaction between Simon and Annabelle, especially when they are at Lord Westcliff's estate. Rating: 4 out of 5.

Was the author new to you and would you read something by this author again?
Not new to me, and I've ordered the next one in the series, It Happened One Autumn.

Are you keeping it or passing it on?
It's autographed, so I'm definitely keeping it.