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Lost in Austen
As someone who lives in Texas, when I heard a friend of mine say the title, LOST IN AUSTEN, my first thought was about Austin, Texas. At first I just ignored the book, figuring it was just another Jane Austen-based book taking advantage of the continuing popularity of Ms. Austen's works. However, just as I turned to leave, I noticed the subtitle: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure. I grabbed it then and there. I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child. I used to spend hours going through every path the book offered, often backtracking and peeking ahead to see what could have happened. Eventually, I knew the books so well I always made the right choices. I am new to the fascination of all things Austen, particularly the joy to be found in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. As a child I missed out on many of the traditional classics many of my peers read due to an inopportune move to another school and a change in reading tracks. So my first read of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE was not until a few years ago. I loved it. I also find that I like the recent adaptation of P&P starring Keira Knightley. Someday, I hope to finally read SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, another classic Austen book.   Therefore, LOST IN AUSTEN was an intriguing find. As I wound my way through the various choices, acquiring (and losing) confidence points, fortune and connections, I grew to appreciate the research that went into this book. While it is based on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, there are many items and experiences based on other Jane Austen books, as well as her life. The footnotes are fascinating reading. Not to mention it's a great character study to see how you would answer when you know how the story is supposed to go. Since I find the story of loathing turned to love to be a beautiful and romantic story, I think most fans of literature would appreciate the intrigue, the romance and the chance to prove that they are smarter than Ms. Elizabeth Bennett. Nicole
One Woman's Kink is Another Woman's Pleasure
Recently, I have been reading the Cajun series by Sandra Hill. I have been reading them out of order - started with the Jinx series ( PINK JINX and PEARL JINX), then even managed to mess up the order of the Cajun books - read TALL, DARK AND CAJUN, then the first book, THE LOVE POTION. Now I am onto THE CAJUN COWBOY and will finish with THE RED-HOT CAJUN. And I must say, I really, really can't wait for the next book in the Jinx series, WILD JINX, which comes out next spring. For those who don't know, the Jinx series contains characters from the Cajun series and WILD JINX will have the long-awaited story about Tee-John's "thunderbolt." Ms. Hill's books remind me why I love romance novels. The stories are sweet, tender, funny and keep you reading. But the title tells you I am also thinking about other things. The sex scenes in Ms. Hill's books are hot, hot, hot! I was always one of those people who, while I enjoy erotica at times, would just skim through most sex scenes. But Ms. Hill's scenes are different. They are fun to read, and I know I blush when I read them while sitting at my desk at work on my lunch break. I can't help comparing them to the sex scenes in the books by Susan Kearney. I also enjoyed her scenes. They were unique. But I have to admit, the kinky factor was definitely raised in her space books - THE CHALLENGE, THE DARE, THE ULTIMATUM, THE QUEST and ISLAND HEAT (latest release KISS ME DEADLY was a contemporary romance that had so much action there was hardly room for sex). I wasn't expecting that. Sex is subjective. Some women prefer their sex scenes graphic, full of details that titillate the five senses. Some prefer to have the sex hinted at, but never fully realized. Even with erotica, there are preferences as to the type of sex, how it is presented, whether emotions are involved or it's just physical. Going from a series with what some people would consider kink (spankings, sex toys and the like) to slightly more standard fare, I have realized that I can enjoy it all. I don't skim through the sex scenes anymore, waiting impatiently to get to the rest of the story. I am enjoying seeing what these authors can come up with next. Nicole
Dragon*Con, Stardust Movie
Getting more excited about heading to Dragon*Con at the end of the month. I have decided on a costume and will be making it this weekend. I am not going to give it away, but I will post pictures of it later. I will be seeing a lot of authors while there (not to mention all your favorite sci-fi actors and actresses) and I can't wait. I am already planning on bringing my copy of KITTY AND THE MIDNIGHT HOUR by Carrie Vaughn as well as copies of the Myth books from Robert Asprin.  Recently, I wrote a post about forcible sex in books and I mistakenly claimed a book by Sandra Brown contained one of those scenes. BITTERSWEET RAIN is actually one of my favorites of hers and I was mortified to discover I had given the wrong title. My mistake was pointed out by a reader and I appreciate the notice. I think the book I was thinking of was IN A CLASS BY ITSELF. However, I apologize if my memory is still faulty.   I saw Stardust this weekend, based on the book by Neil Gaiman. I have been a Neil Gaiman fan for some time (try AMERICAN GODS, especially if you like the old Greek, Roman and Norse myths), but I had not read STARDUST. I liked the movie, especially once I realized the Star was Claire Danes, not Gwyneth Paltrow as I first thought (not a fan of Ms. Paltrow's). It was cute and more original than many other movies out right now. Why is it that all the best and most "original" movies are based on books?   Suggestions? Leave me a comment! Nicole
Why Did the Genre Cross the Road?
I am currently reading Susan Kearney's THE QUEST, having finished the previous three books in the series ( THE CHALLENGE, THE DARE and THE ULTIMATUM). In reading this series, I got to thinking about mixing genres. If you look at bookshelves in Barnes & Noble or Borders, you see a few basic sections: Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi/Fantasy and general fiction. But this does not begin to encompass all the different types of books out there - as the many sections in RT will tell you. Ms. Kearney's books definitely could be described as both sci-fi and romance. I have been told that Susan Grant's books, including YOUR PLANET OR MINE?, are another example of this kind of genre mixing. Diane Mott Davidson's mysteries also cross genres. I think that much of this started earlier though. Such as making vampires a fixture in romantic books - scary creatures that used to be much more of a focus in horror novels ( DRACULA anyone?). The recent evolution of urban fantasy and paranormal written by romance authors is simply a byproduct.  And that makes me wonder what will be next? We already have mystery/romance, suspense/romance, horror and romance have been appropriated into the paranormal. So what's next? Nicole
Single, White Booklover Seeks Same
I have been reading a lot of romance novels lately. Ones with plots focusing on love and lust at first sight. Finding life mates and knowing that is the person you are meant to be with the rest of your life. But lately, reading about people falling in love has been a little harder. I am currently single and have been for so long that people no longer ask me if I am seeing someone (except my ever-optimistic great-grandmother). So reading about love, in its many forms, is just a little bit difficult. And sometimes, does it ever suck. I love to read books that mirror things in real life. Jeffrey Archer's HONOR AMONG THIEVES came out during the Clinton administration and had tons of references to American pop and political culture. It was very entertaining to see a reference to Clinton's haircut on Air Force One only months after it happened.  Granted, it's kind of creepy in other cases. Many of Dean Koontz's books are set in Southern-Central California. I remember reading one of his books during a vacation to visit family in Newport Beach and driving down a highway one night. As I looked out the window, I realized I was on the same stretch of highway where a body was dumped out of a car in the book (it was either LIGHTNING or HIDEAWAY, I can't remember).   On the bright side, when I do finally meet that tall, handsome stranger with mysterious eyes and a hidden heart of gold, I will know exactly what to do! Nicole
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