I’d love to have this book. (Makes a note to add to Amazon wishlist).  I’ve been reading the bitches for a couple of years now and I love them.  They’re funny “like damn and whoa,” they have awesome commenters, they call their readers the bitchery, and they’ve got something to say.  We shouldn’t be ashamed of loving our romances.  Hold those Fabio covers up proudly and proclaim to the world, “Yes, I am a smart bitch and I freaking love trashy novels!” Found: A video made by assorted pubbed romance authors endorsing the greatness of their book (above).Read More →

This book, by Kelly St. John*, broke several big rules. There was no clear antagonist. The majority of the book, the heroine and hero’s relationship doesn’t immediately progress to HEA simply because of verbal misunderstanding and some insecurity and doubt on both parts. And the end? The black moment is based on a huge misunderstanding that the heroine won’t give the hero a chance to explain. It breaks all the rules I’ve read, and yet… it’s a really good book. I love the characters, I enjoyed watching as they fell harder for one another (since they both basically start with major crushes). Despite the misunderstandingRead More →

I finished Ex and the Single Girl.  This isn’t a review in the strictest sense.  I’d never call someone out to condemn work they killed themselves to do.  I’m not downing people who do, reviewers are important to us as readers.  But as a writer, I’m going to respect the work whether I like the book or not. That out of the way, I loved this book.  When I enjoy a book, I make a point to note what I particularly enjoyed about it, because it gives me more range as a writer.  I loved the friendship between Portia and Ian as it developed.  ItRead More →

I just watched this, Saturday night, and I’m still so in LOVE with this story, and the characters–Holly Golightly, I adore you, and you’re crazy yet vulnerable way of living!  Paul!  Fred, Darling, I love that you’re a freaking manwhore and the hero–and you pull it off! I want to read the book, I want to own the movie (I netflixed it) so that whenever I feel sad, I can watch this movie and make my heart smile again.Read More →

So I’m watching movies considered to be some of the most romantic movies for many decades. I’ve watched Gone With the Wind and An Affair to Remember more times than I’ve changed my clothes, almost, so I wanted to start with something new (to me). This is, technically, research for a character, who would’ve been watching these movies at a certain point in her life. But, I thought, if I’m watching some of the best romances ever, why not examine the GMC? Maybe I’ll learn something. Movie: Sabrina Hero: Linus Cold-blooded corporate raider GOAL MOTIVATION CONFLICT Internal To be compensated for the life his brotherRead More →

And, on that premise, the thing I am intensely lusting for is… this. I nearly choked on my coffee when I happened to see it in an email from Overstock this week. Update 06.28.2011: I recently read this book (loved it).  I received it from paperbackswap.com because I had credits and it was on auto-order… anyway, I put off reading it for months.  Want to know why?  Because it’s in paper.  And I really love the convenience of my Kindle.  Of course, when you can’t put it down and end up reading it in a couple of days, convenience isn’t such a big deal.Read More →

Want to hear something amusing?  It occurred to me that my mother might read this, or my aunt, both of whom I love dearly (who will call me on this)…and I nearly censored myself.  Ironic?  I think so.  So sorry Mom and Auntie T., but that’s just what censorship is. Ooookay, and this post starts now. Today’s link is to 25 Banned Books That You Should Read Today. The idea of banning books amazes me.  The only reason I can think of that libraries and schools would ban books is because parents are too lazy to parent their children.  We’re not talking going into theRead More →

I was reading Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire (of Wicked fame).  I don’t know what it is about these stories of his, but he manages to take a story that we know so well, it’s part of our psyche, turn it into something completely different, and yet… the same.  The stories suck you in, and it’s not Snow White you’re reading about, it’s Bianca de Nevada, and her father, and the dwarves–Heartless and Mute, Mute, Mute, to name a couple–and the Borgias (real dead people, Lucrezia being cast as the evil stepmother/witch, jealous of “Snow White’s” beauty). Anyway, all I can say is: if GregoryRead More →