Smooth Talking Stranger (and First Person Narratives)

Novel - Smooth Talking Stranger
Author - Lisa Kleypas
ISBN-13: 9780312351663

I will begin by saying that I am not the greatest fan of contemporaries. And, while I did not think this novel was one of Ms. Kleypas' best works, I enjoyed it and I am looking forward to her next Travis novel. For now what I wanted to focus on was her use of the first person narrative. Admittedly, I have read fewer first person narratives than contemporaries and I must say that she is due some props for using this voice!

This book was the 3rd installment of the Travis family series. All of the books from this series have been written in the 1st person. I am not sure if Ms. Kleypas chose this view point because this is a contemporary novel or if it was just a challenge. Regardless, I found this view point to be appropriate to the period. So while this writing perspective was slightly jarring at first, I had little trouble understanding our hero's intention and felt the impact of Jack's emotions without actually having his perspective. For this reason alone, I commend her writing in this view point. I can imagine that writing in the first person one has to give more thought to the conveyance of feeling by showing through the first person view point while ensuring that they do not over-tell what the other person feels.

Yet, I never felt the book get too descriptive. There were times, however, when I wanted the story to be more evocative. Writing in the first person can be extremely powerful for the reader who has no buffer between herself and the character. I wanted my heart strings pulled a little bit more. I am Ella when I am reading in the first person - so why don't I have Ella's raw emotions? There should be times of cutting emotion - and it should not be muted. We should be drawn to laugh, cry and feel as our heroine did… nonetheless I never developed that connection.

Maybe the reason I found this tense distracting was because there was no alternative perspective. In most other romance novels I am familiar with, the reader has both the male and female perspective. Having both perspectives affords the reader insight into the thoughts of both characters and not just the female's. In 'Smooth Talking Stranger' we know that Jack Travis is in love with Ella because of what he says to the heroine, what others say about him to our heroine, and through his actions as told to us from Ella's vantage point. However, we don't get to be in his head as I am accustomed to do when we have multiple view points as in the other Regency novels that Lisa Kleypas has written. Of course, this makes the book a little one-sided…which is, after all, the point of writing in the first person.

Overall, I have enjoyed all of the Travis books. So while my jury is out still on the first person, I will certainly read the next installment. As I said, these books are not like her Regency novels. Nevertheless, they are entertaining (and quick) reads. If you like Lisa Kleypas, or the first person narratives, you should pick them up.

Happy Reading!
Finding Alpha

The Earl Claims His Wife - How about Claiming an Editor?

I have been trying to post weekly, but it’s been a while since I have been able. My first job called and I had to answer! I did manage to keep reading romance during this time though; it seems to be one of the only things that can mellow me out after a long day...


Novel - The Earl Claims His Wife
Author - Cathy Maxwell
ISBN-13: 978-0-06-135099-3

This book started out horribly. Interestingly enough it wasn't the plot that was horrible, but the writing. No one should be allowed to write and have published: "the fire that had burned between them quickly caught fire." Even if the fire had burned in the past, how does a fire catch fire? That question pretty much sums up how the book went for me – I will admit that there were some moments when I really enjoyed reading it. I wanted the Earl to claim his wife, and he does “claim” her in an interesting manner…riding in on a horse and such. But there was so much describing and telling instead of showing that I was bored in most places. I kept thinking that Ms. Maxwell was being lazy with her writing. Her laziness angered me because I usually like how she writes. In truth, I was more angered by the fact that I spent $7.99 on it! I wanted better quality writing from her. I expected it and was disappointed.

The story had me thinking that Ms. Maxwell had to be pressed for time, or maybe she had writer's block. For instance, in one scene, Ms. Maxwell explains, "Alice, the shyer of sisters, nodded." That’s it. The reader hadn't met Alice before this moment, so of course we need to know that she is shy in order to envision her response. But Ms. Maxwell doesn't tell us how she nodded. She only tells us that she is shy leaving us to imagine how she would have reacted. Nothing in the statement tells us how she responded. So why not something along the lines of 'Alice nodded uncomfortably. She had always been the shyer of the two girls'? Maybe my way phrasing isn't better writing, and certainly more verbose, but at least the reader isn’t left hanging imagining how she Alice would have nodded.

Sadly, the only part that I found redeeming was the end – in part because it was the end, but mostly because it was touching. The characters, of course, reveal their love for one another. Thank God! The Earl was a real dunder-head and all his character seemed to talk about was the fact that his wife didn't trust him. When, in fact, it seemed he was just as untrusting! There was a lot of misunderstanding when they probably could have just talked it out. Annoying.

In sum, this book is not one of her better efforts. Read it if you like. And, if you like I would be willing to sell it to you and then I can recoup a portion of my costs…

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha

The Scandals of an Innocent

Novel - The Scandals of an Innocent
Author - Nicola Cornick
ISBN-13: 9780373773893




In reading Nicola Cornick’s ‘The Scandals of an Innocent’, I found this book kind of slow going. Regardless, I enjoyed it. This is the 2nd in a three book series, but the first that I have read by Ms. Cornick. I found her to be an intriguing voice (most of the time) and am interested in reading more…Mostly, I like the newness of the plot, characters and the rich banter between hero and heroine.

Alice Lister, our heroine, has come into quite a bit of money and must find a man or else lose have her fortune to taxation! Enter Miles, Lord Vickery. He is a rake and a fortune hunter. What makes him worse than most is that he actually wooed Alice once before only to abandon her to test his wiles on a more wealthy heiress.

Miles may be as indebted as they come, but he makes no qualms about being a gold-digger. Alice desires him and he lusts after her because of her beauty. These two have a cat and mouse relationship. In general, he takes a personal affront to most things that she does and is dragging her off to another room and ravishing her. There are several of these types of scenes until the ultimate ravishing takes place. For some reason (my cave-woman instincts, maybe) I enjoy reading about dragging and the ravishing, so these parts were a solid read.

The overarching plot arch is that Miles enters a pact with Alice that he will tell the truth in all things. He must do so in order for him to prove that he is worthy to be married to her. This pact comes crashing to a head when Miles hands her over to the Law in the name of truth, and she is taken away in shackles! Like any half-intelligent woman, Alice questions why he didn’t protect her instead of telling the truth. His reason for telling the truth is that she would not respect him if he had not told the truth. Ultimately, she agrees and forgives him – even after she spent a night in jail.

Thus my issue: In my mind it would have been more poetic if he had lied. What did these characters gain by telling the truth – nothing! She spent the night in prison and is humiliated – all because he felt the need to come clean. Maybe it is my quixotic tendencies but I tend to be a believer that truth is not so easily discerned!

Of course, I understand why the author chose to write his redemption this way, but it begged the question: Why do our characters – and it’s usually our male characters – have to be redeemed for us to have closure? Why can’t they stay true to their nature in the beginning? Isn’t it the darkness and imperfections of their character the reasons that we are drawn to them in the first place? Would it have made that much of a difference had he lied, especially if it was in the name of protecting her? Thoughts?

So while the book slumbered along in places, I kept on reading. As such, I will most likely go back to the first book and see if she delivers just as, if not more successfully, than this one. Either way, I will surely let you know when I do…

Happy Reading!
FindingAlpha

PS – I forgot to mention that there was also this unnecessary intrigue at the end in which our heroine is kidnapped. It really had no business being there, and I continue to question the inclusion of tedious plot twists that add nothing in bringing our characters together. They were already together. Just end it already.

Don't Tempt Me

Novel - Don't Tempt Me
Author - Loretta Chase
ISBN-13: 9780061632662

I enjoyed Loretta Chase’s 'Don’t Tempt Me'. I found the novel to be both entertaining and witty. Delightful really.

But with all things positive, I tend to dwell on the negative...

So while I enjoyed reading this book, I don’t think that I care to read it again. Wanting to read a book again, and again, and again (which I do) is the hallmark of a good romance novel in my opinion. To the book’s credit, I was intrigued by the whole escaping the harem plot line, Zoe Octavia’s innuendos and her knowledge of the sexual arts. Nevertheless, all that sexual intimation did not translate to steaminess on the page. If I remember correctly there were approximately two scenes that where our heroine enchants the hero with her sexual prowess, but then the author “pans to the window” and we are left with…nothing but curtain.

And that's it - The main reason why I will not pick up this book again is that I expected more from a female character who lived a concubine for twelve years, a woman who understands the power of her own sexuality, and who has ensnared an equally sexual male. I expected there would be sparks in the bedroom. Instead I was left cold.


In other romance novels, at times it is too unbelievable that the staid Regency woman would be a “cat” in the bedroom, but Zoe Octavia is a harem-girl. It would have been very believable and appropriate to have a little more steam, and maybe even a little more vulgarity - not kinky or Erotica, just more titillation. Zoe’s character seemed open to it, but maybe the author was not. While the Ms. Chase delivered a sound book, I expected more form the sultry harem-girl and her bedroom exploration and actualization with her ducal husband. In the end, it is this reason alone why I would read the book again.

All in all, I recommend this to romance readers (at least once) – lovely story, characterization and engaging plot. Just do not expect the harem-girl to reveal anything about the bedroom you don’t already know.

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha

Bed Him Before the BSR Comes-a-Knocking!

Novel – Wed Him Before You Bed Him
Author – Sabrina Jeffries
ISBN-13: 9781416560821

As a reader of the Sabrina Jeffries 'School of Heiresses' series, I followed the blossoming relationship between Michael and Charlotte from the outset. And while I usually try not to over-anticipate a series' final novel, I heartily anticipated this story…

You don’t have to read much farther to see where this is going...

Of course, I was utterly disappointed!

Ms. Jefferies captured me from the start of the book, and through much of the first half, with interesting characters, palpable tension, and parrying dialogue. But as soon as the Bow Street Runner (BSR) shows up at Michael's door accusing him of murder (just after he has bedded the lovely Charlotte), I wanted to drown the book in the tub along with Michael's long dead wife...Ugh.

These characters had enough intrigue and mixed emotions driving them, and their story (unrequited love, poor and hasty judgment, revenge, etc.), without incorporating an external (and convoluted) plot line! There were so many peripheral characters - many of which we met in previous novels. I could have cared less about them. Their addition only meandered and added very little (if anything) to the plot.

Surely, Ms. Jeffries could have found another, less external, plot device to expose Cousin Michael's dastardly plan to humiliate Charlotte? Instead we get a Bow Street Runner with a grudge against the ton, a scheming brother-in-law with gambling debts, a ne'er do well footman, a profligate but-not-so profligate brother, a nasty real estate developer, and last, but not least, a loan shark from Spittalfields. YIKES. Yet, the only person to be accused of murder is our hero - now that's believable.

I had hoped that 'Bed Him' would be the worth the build-up from all the previous books. But, the lesson I learned (again), apart from being reminded that I hate unnecessary, external plot-lines, is that I should not hold my breath in expectation of the final series' book being anything greater than mediocre.

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha

River Lady - Save Me I'm Drowning!

Novel – River Lady
Author – Jude Deveraux
ISBN-13: 9780671739782

My fellow blogger, Swampy, recommended Jude Deveraux' 'River Lady' to me. In fact she included it on her favorite list of romances. Swampy notes that while Deveraux' plot becomes convoluted towards the end she manages to be an entertaining read.

Boy was she right!

With a Cinderella/rags-to-riches story line, I started off the book with only happy thoughts. I was charmed by the heroine's ability to pull herself above her station after being dragged pregnant across a chapel floor only to be judged (wantingly) by her social and economic superiors. Our hero does not wish to be married to Leah for he is in love with a prettier, needier woman than our heroine. But, of course, he marries her and summarily leaves town for a year. When he returns Leah is now beautifully turned out and has warmed her way into his family's heart - no thanks to him. And, so they set off for his farmhouse in Kentucky to make a home. Somehow his former fiancé (who he still fancies himself in love with) tags along with them on their journey. Trials and tribulations, which would put out any frontier woman (besides our heroine, of course), ensue. Leah proves herself cunning and worthy while the other woman proves herself useless. Soon our hero begins to see the folly of not loving Leah.
All is well....
Great.
Wonderful.
Entertaining read.
Loved it...

Oh wait....I still have to finish the last 1/3 of the book! I judiciously trudge onward (Swampy's caveat echoing in my thoughts), but it's too late. I am lost in a mess of incoherent plot within pages of our author bringing the two leads together. The plot unfolds to include a bad guy, a nefarious older brother, two really big guys who don't talk, but who are really smart, and who later go off to have a threesome with each other (at least that is what I construed...ick). And then even later in the book the plot is made even more incoherent by the addition of another evil person who goes about besmirching our heroine's good name. This development is masterminded by some guy menacingly named "the Dancer" (what a stupid name for an evil dude if I ever read one) for reasons I still have yet to determine.

Of course, all's well that ends well with the ladies needing to be rescued because they were apparently too senseless not to put themselves in a situation where they might be killed. In the end, it is determined that our heroine really does need saving after all.

Long of the short: Should you read this book you really should stop right after our hero announces he is going to stay married our heroine (I enjoyed it up to this point). After that just put the book down. The final 1/3 of the book fails to make much sense, is completely contrived and utterly ridiculous!

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha

With Seduction in Mind...at Some Point...in the Near Future

Novel – With Seduction in Mind
Author – Laura Lee Gurkhe
ISBN-13: 9780061456831

It took quite a while for me to get into this book, but I have to admit that there were several moments were I was captivated by the scenes between hero and heroine. As an aspiring writer, I sympathized with both characters. The moments where our hero described struggling with writing and the times when nothing came to him yet he continued to toil were very close to home. His troubles were my troubles, and they resonated with me.

Similarly, the heroine's ability to write page after page of drivel also resonated. I find that I am most adept at producing drivel! And similar to her, I can justify writing crap because at least I am writing something. In my mind, it was clear who these characters were and I never felt that these characters strayed from their intentions.

However, I was disappointed by how slowly the book built up tension. Let me correct that...there was tension from the outset for these characters, but not tension of the romantic sort. And once the romantic tension became apparent, it dragged. It seemed to me that Ms. Gurhke waxed on about the hardships of writing (or not writing) and I became bored. I found myself skipping paragraphs and sometimes scenes because the story failed to move forward. Once the heroine decided to "seduce" our hero with kisses, the story moved along at a nice pace, but getting to that rhythm was sometimes a bit too painful, too brooding, and definitely too much philosophizing about the trials and tribulations of the writing process. We (or at least I) got it already.

Take, for instance, that were teased by the hero's desire to kiss our heroine. In three separate instances the reader thinks she might get some respite and a little passion. But no, she must wait. Maybe this waiting was how the author tried to build conflict. Tension and conflict is often how authors raise the stakes for their characters. But when authors tease the readers with these tension filled scenes time and time again, but then don’t deliver to the reader’s heightened need for resolution, it is distracting. I kept expecting him to pull her into his arms and kiss her passionately…but he didn’t…Okay, I exaggerate…but when he did kiss her it was well past the time that I had given up hope that he would!

Long of the short, is that I found the pacing to be "off", but when we are finally wrapped into the seduction (the 2nd half of the book), the author corrects for her pacing nicely. This makes me wonder if Ms. Gurhke had her own “inspiration” for the latter part of the book...

Ultimately I enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it.

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha