Suspense by Any Other Name

I read books based on my moods, and this year, paranormal had been fitting that bill fairly well. When I started reading romance novels, I preferred romantic suspense (though I didn't call it that). I liked the fact that it was a dramatic story with some romance mixed in. Then I read some historicals, because I am a huge fan of historical fiction. Later, I started getting into paranormals, in part because I discovered I like certain types of fantasy and sci-fi. Sure surprised me - if you had told me years ago that I would be a huge sci-fi fan, I would have laughed!

During my brief visit to RWA, I met Karen Rose. She asked if I like romantic suspense. When I replied yes, she asked who I read. I admit I was a little startled to be asked. And what initially came to mind was all the paranormal authors I read. She told me she has a hard time reading paranormal and doesn't really understand the appeal.

To me, there is a lot in common between suspense and paranormal (here, I am referring more to the darker paranormal of say, BLOOD BOUND by Patricia Briggs than the more humorous paranormal of UNDEAD AND UNWED by MaryJanice Davidson). They both feature strong leads that fight the odds and end up together. They have twists and turns that lead to the climactic ending. They feature heart-pounding scenes of action and adventure. The only difference is the element of fantasy involved.

For instance, I have been reading the Moon series by Rebecca York. The first book, KILLING MOON, features a private investigator who helps find killers and criminals no one else can, due in part to his extra-sensory abilities that come with being a werewolf. The woman he falls in love with is a biologist, who also finds herself in danger. Take out the word "werewolf" and this plot could be described as romantic suspense.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments!

Nicole

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Bookstore

Okay, I am behind the times. I am just now, FINALLY reading MaryJanice Davidson. A friend of mine has been a huge fan of hers for years and was so excited that she was at the RT convention this year. We attended her breakfast and I have been using the book bag promoting UNDEAD AND UNEASY ever since. I visited her panel on humor in writing. And yet, I had never read her.

Until Monday. I started with the first book, UNDEAD AND UNPOPULAR. The next day I went to the bookstore and picked up the next four. I am currently reading UNDEAD AND UNEMPLOYED.

I love humorous books. Tanya Huff's SUMMON THE KEEPER was the first book to ever make me laugh out loud and I did so with most pages. I still quote lines from that book.

Humor in books can be tricky. Finding a sense of humor that matches your is not always easy. And it can't be too contrived or complicated. Humor in romance can be even trickier - where do you draw the line? Much of chick lit seemed to explore this concept, with some doing better than others. Jane Green and Jennifer Weiner handle this well, which I think explains their continued best selling status.

I have found that books without humor are harder for me to read. They go more slowly and I usually end up wanting to read something lighter afterwards. Not that every book has to be a laugh riot. I have enjoyed many a suspense novel that has a few choice one-liners or humorous situations. I think that adds an element of realism - not everything is life is serious.

If you can suggest something funny I should read, please do so in the comments.

Nicole

Notes From a Broad

Just a few short thoughts for you today...

- I drove up to Dallas this weekend to meet a few people who were attending the RWA Conference. Wow, was it overwhelming. I was only there for a few hours and I was worn out when I left. Lots of authors in attendance. I was able to see Rachel Caine, who told me all her books at the book signing were gone in 45 minutes. Wow! I also got to meet Angela Knight and her wonderful husband. I love to see couples who seem to truly love and support one another and they are a great example of that.

- Finished THE CONSTANT PRINCESS by Philippa Gregory. I had waited a long time to read it because I had been disappointed in her last book, THE VIRGIN'S LOVER. And while this one was set up in a distracting way, I did enjoy it a bit better. The constant switching between the events happening and her thoughts was hard to take and even in the more long-winded bits was not especially helpful. I still have THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE to read and we shall see if that is any better.

- Still working on Rebecca York's series. Currently on CRIMSON MOON. Right now, this is tied with the first book, KILLING MOON, for my favorite. Two more to go.

- Picked up a few books at the bookstore this weekend. Was very pleased to see a large display table with romance books set up right in the aisle. And it was a nice mix of chick lit, paranormal, suspense and historical. Someone put some thought into the contents of that table.

Nicole

A Rape by Any Other Name

The topic of the alpha male has come up several times in the forums. How nowadays there aren't too many books with the strong, macho male characters who might take a woman with force. Generally, the readers in the forum seem to agree that this is a good change.

When I started reading romances one of my favorite authors was Sandra Brown. My first one was FRENCH SILK. I loved the mix of suspense and romance, and the wonderful setting of the French Quarter in New Orleans. From that point on, I collected her books.

However, when I started reading the re-releases of some of her earlier work I discovered a nasty little side of Ms. Brown's books that I didn't like. Like many authors in the 80s, she had written books with the macho male protagonist. I put up with a lot of them, mostly to be supportive of an author I enjoyed and because the story was otherwise fun.

Until the day I read BITTERSWEET RAIN. This book was re-released in 2000 and I borrowed it when I was working at Barnes and Noble. Had I not borrowed it, I would have thrown it to the ground – and I don't abuse books. I was so pissed off when I read the scene where the so-called love interest rapes the main character – and she FORGIVES him and they get back together.

I screamed and ranted for days. I was disillusioned. I was saddened. And my quasi-feminist leanings were ready to abandon all romance books. But in my mind I knew that the book was merely an example of the 80s mindset and it was not indicative of the genre as a whole.

But to this day, I have a hard time reading anything written before the early 90s and Sandra Brown has been replaced with other authors in the top 5 (which is really now the top 8, but who's counting). I like my men manly, smart and strong, both physically and mentally, but rape does not factor into it. And I am surprised it ever did.

Nicole

To Be Read or Not to Be Read

I noticed that a lot of the people in the RT forums talk about their TBR piles - books To Be Read. It was such a relief to find out I was not the only one with dozens upon dozens of books just waiting for me to crack open the spines and let the words come flowing out.

I get a lot of harassment from some of my friends about my books. I get teased about what I read, since I will read anything and that includes books and genres some friends find stupid or poorly written. I get teased for buying my books in multiples, sometimes to detriment of my other bills or even food. I get teased for keeping most of my books. Some of my friends think it's ridiculous to clutter up my house and my life with books and that I should just let them go onto new homes. I get teased for my passion for books, but usually only by nonreaders - and I don't know too many of those because that is just anathema to me.

My TBR pile is probably what I get most teased for. I have a two shelf bookcase dedicated to my TBR pile, with overflow onto the upper two shelves of another case. And all those shelves are double-lined. I add to this pile every week, and I add to my wish list (both literal and mental) nearly every day. I stalk author's web sites for upcoming release dates. I follow cover quotes and publisher's web sites to find new authors I might enjoy. I read the book review sections in all my favorite magazines/web sites (and of course, RT).

I am also an aspiring author myself and this just adds to the joy - and the collection. I have books of every genre, nonfiction books on nearly any topic (seriously - I once had a friend quiz me on random topics of books I might own and I only missed one out of about 20: insects of South America). I have dozens of books on writing and the English language, which I find incredibly fascinating. For this, I am also teased.

This would all imply that I am not choosy about what I read, but that's not true. I like to think I am just optimistic that I will enjoy whatever books I bring home. And mostly, this is true. However, the order in which I am likely to read books from my TBR pile often shifts based on mood, interest and what books I recently read or brought home. But I am always looking for something new. As ever, if you want to suggest something I should read, leave me a comment.

Nicole

Through a Book Darkly

I have never been a particularly picky reader. I will read nearly anything, though I do go through stages of what I am most focused on. Fiction of most kinds, biographies and social histories are my bread and butter, with occasionally forays into physics and philosophy.

This means I will give most things a shot and when something is highly recommended, I am even more excited. I have had several books recently come my way that were especially recommended by friends and authors I respect. Therefore, the disappointment was felt all the more deeply when I didn't enjoy them.

This has happened to me a few times recently. Sadly, I didn't enjoy STRAY nearly as much as I had hoped. For me, it was overly concerned with describing pack mentality and was more graphic than I was prepared for. I have read many a book about shape shifting in some form or another, and few books described things in quite such graphic terms. I wanted to like the book, but I just didn't. I believe in second chances, though, so I will try Rachel Vincent's next book.

I also really, really wanted to enjoy Shannon K. Butcher's NO REGRETS. When I met her at the RT Convention this year, she struck me as very sweet and, of course, intelligent. That intelligence showed through her book, but the sweetness just didn't quite make it through. There was a noticeable distance evident in the book, which may be a result of Mrs. Butcher's background in engineering, I don't know. However, I will read the next book, NO CONTROL and see if that distance goes away.

However, some books have surpassed my expectations. I just read the first book of Rebecca York's, KILLING MOON. I very much enjoyed it and am currently reading EDGE OF THE MOON. I also enjoyed "Dead Man's Chest" from MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING, and I don't usually go for pirate stories. I am really looking forward to the sequel, "Roman Holiday, or SPQ ARRRRRRR!" which will come out in December, 2007 in MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL HONEYMOON.

Have you ever had a book that disappointed you? Or one that was so much better than you expected? Let me know!

Nicole