Books Chez Moi

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I've been tagged...

2007-05-26T16:15:00.001+01:00

I discovered, I am not a very dedicated blogger. Between working, writing on my thesis and reviewing eight to ten books/month (with two to three edits), I can't seem to find the energy to blog about my other reading adventures. But every so often Rosario tags me in order to circumvent the extinction of my site *g*.

The following phrase I picked from her blog to explain the current tagging round: "Just list and describe three of your favorite books that other people might not be familiar with. Then tag five people."

Well, I came up with more books than requested. I tried to select my three favorite (unknown) keepers but it was too difficult, so I will present a fourth one. Like Rosario I had the problem that many of my favorite books come from well-known authors, that's why listing Carla Kelly, Nora Roberts or Linda Howard wasn't an option. Most of my recommendations are historicals which is quite funny, because over the year more than 75% of my read novels have a contemporary setting.

1. Olga Bicos - Wrapped in Wishes

(Contemporary/American Historical/Time Travel) Chloe Plum, seeing a therapist for insomnia, is put under hypnosis. While under, she takes possession of Constance Franklin's body at the time of her death in 1882. As Constance, Chloe is drawn to Egyptologist-turned-ghost-hunter Harrison Conners. Driven to communicate with his dead brother, Harrison is trying to locate his brother's ghost when he finds Constance. When she witnesses a ghost, Harrison realizes that Constance has the power to contact the other side, perhaps even his brother. Constance/Chloe learns much about Harrison and the others in Constance's life-all of whom parallel people in her own life. Even the untrustworthy Stedman, Harrison's enemy, is too much of a reminder of her ex-husband. When she comes out of her trance, returning to present day New Orleans, Chloe tries to answer the questions from the past and meets Parker Stevens, a dead-ringer for Harrison and the cartoonist who created "Hauntings," a paranormal comic strip based on Harrison Conner's adventures. Leaping back and forth in time, in and out of her hypnotic trances, Chloe/Constance and Parker/Harrison must stop a madman from bringing his evil to the 20th century and, in doing so, discover a love for all time.

I read this book years ago in German and absolutely adored it. Olga Bicos's heroines are very mature and independent, without loosing their vulnerable chore that endears them to the reader. I think Bicos nowadays rather writes suspense books with a dash of romance in it, but her early romances have everything a romance addict loves. Even if you don't like the time travel genre, this book may be an exception. The plot is quite enthralling with paranormal and scientific elements and the love story is comparable to some of LaVyrle Spencer's master pieces. I also would love to recommend Bicos's books Risky Games and More than Magic. The former a great and well-researched and unusual romantic suspense story, the latter a paranormal western historical about a female archaeologist.

2. Laura London - The Windflower

(Regency) SHE LONGED FOR A PIRATE’S KISSES, FOR A GOLDEN ROGUE’S CARESS… Every lady of breeding knows. No one has a good time on a pirate ship. No one, that is, but the pirates. Yet there she was, Merry Wilding – kidnapped in error, taken from a ship bound from New York to England, spirited away in a barrel and swept aboard the infamous Black Joke…. There she was, trembling with pleasure in the arms of her achingly handsome, sensationally sensual, golden-haired captor – Devon. From the storm-tossed Atlantic to the languid waters of the Gulf Stream, from a smuggler’s den to a gilded mansion, Merry struggled to escape… to escape the prison of her own reckless passions, the bondage of sweet, bold desire…

One of the best historical romances ever. Laura London is a pseudonym used by Sharon and Tom Curtis, a writing duo who also published under the pen name Robin James. They only have written about ten books, but each one is better than the former. They separated some years ago and thus also stopped their collaboration. Over at AAR you can find some interviews and reviews about their work, it is absolutely fabulous and emotionally very touching. The Windflower is their one and only long historical novel with a nautical theme. It's quite difficult to find and not very cheap, but definitely worth every cent. Damn, writing about this book makes me want to re-read it :-)

3. Sandy Hingston - The Suitor

(Regency) Beautiful, wealthy Katherine Deveraux doesn't think
she's better than everyone else—she knows it. Her snobbish ways alienate whomever she meets—and her parents fear her marriage prospects are ruined. Determined to uncover their hard-hearted daughter's soft side, they ask Countess Christiane d'Oliveri for help... The Countess has the perfect solution a French ne'er-do-well known as Alain Montclair. He agrees to seduce Katherine and then break her cold heart in two—a daunting task, to be sure. But this charming rogue is most surprised to find that Katherine—behind her haughty airs and petty pretensions—is a deeply lonely woman desperate for love ...

Some time ago I shopped with one of my favorite online used book stores where I bought this lovely tale. I wanted to profit from the free shipping offer and therefore needed some more books. Browsing the desert isle keeper reviews over at AAR I somehow decided upon this book by Hingston - without reading the blurb. Thanks heaven! It was my best historical discovery in 2006, a book I read in one day and read twice more after having finished it the first time. After the first few chapters I thought myself crazy for buying this book. The heroine was totally, absolutely unlikable in her behaviour and treatment of others. She is the daughter of a duke and as such sees herself in a position where she reigns from morning to evening over her inferiors. But Sandy Hingston did the unthinkable and described her astonishing character development so convincingly I not only started to like but really, really loved her. The book has a surprising and endearing ending I would - in a way - compare to Connie Brockway's ending from All through the Night. Sandy Hingston doesn't publish anymore, apparently because her novels don't sell very well. She's also published quite a number of books under the pen name Mallory Burgess.

4. Amy J. Fetzer - My Timeswept Heart

(American Historical/Time Travel) A SENSUAL SPRITE SPRUNG FROM THE SEA Street-smart, Olympic-trained gymnast Tess Renfrew was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Pursued by a gang of hoods, forced to choose between a bullet and a watery death, she leapt over the rail of a Bahama-bound cruiser ... only to be swept into a thundering wall of mist. Carried to safety on the back of a dolphin, Tess awoke in the arms of a ravishingly handsome 18th-century pirate! A BOLD BUCCANEER BATTLING DANGER AND DESIRE Captain Dane Blackwell was intrigued by the woman he'd fished from the briny depths ... enflamed by her fiery spirit and bold sensuality. His prisoner, his prize, she would sail with him on hs quest for vengeance -- and the teasure that was rightfully his. Though his seaswept enchantress came from a place he could never know, he'd risk life itself to keep her with him always, defying the past, the future ... and time itself!

I browsed the web for a picture of the English release, without success - therefore I choose the cover of the German edition. Another time travel romance set in a nautical sub genre it seems, though both aren't themes I particularly favor or search out. Fetzer nowadays writes romantic suspense stories with Brava and series romance with Harlequin, but in her early days she composed some wonderful historicals, this one being one of my dearest. This book offers first and foremost great entertainment and an absolutely adorable hero who lies the world at the feet of his chosen woman. The historical surrounding is totally romanticized but in this case I didn't mind at all because the book captured me so much I re-read it about six times in the first three months *lol*. If you would like to try out more of Amy J. Fetzer's old historicals I recommend her paranormal Irish trilogy which plays in a bewitching medieval setting on the green island.

I have no idea whom I shall tag, so I tag everyone who's interested :-) Despite having some blogs I religiously read, I rarely comment on them, therefore most don't really know of my existence *g*.

Blog Tag - Five Things Nobody Knows About Me

2007-01-06T15:19:00.000+01:00

I was tagged by Rosario to write about 5 things nobody knows about me. I've seen this tagging business on other blogs, but for me it's the first time, kind of a deflowering *lol*.
Ok, let's start...

1) What I simply need to mention is my first romance novel. It was Honor's Splendor by Julie Garwood, still one of my guilty pleasure novels. As you can see, the cover is totally mortifying. It was late afternoon, and I had a horrible day at university, a paper to write and no end in sight. So I went to a local book chain and started browsing in order to have a little relaxation time. Up to this day, I was 21 back then, I've never ever read a romance novel or considered doing so. But somehow this cover was so ugly that I simply needed to buy it, I didn't even read the blurb - AND devoured it, of course. I was instantly hooked, but simultaneously hid the book because I couldn't admit that I read a book with such a horrible cover (BTW, translated the German title of this book means melody of passion *arggg*)

2) The most horrible moment of my life was in 1998. Back then I was in Nice/France with a family whom I worked as an au pair for. One of my "duties" was to have a driving licence in order to pick up their 14-year old daughter from school - it was also dearly necessary because the last bus stop was 2 km away. Anyway, I had my driving licence for three weeks, my au pair parents were in Djerba, it was night and I urgently needed two more eggs to make a cake. I took my car (I had one for myself) and drove down the mountain to the next grocery store. I knew where it was, because my au pair mother showed it to me. On the way back I took the wrong road. It isn't very difficult to take the wrong road in Nice, because you always have the sea to orientate yourself and everything is signposted to death. But back then I got so nervous and somehow didn't pay attention, and before I realised it I was on the highway to Marseille!!!!!!

In France you have to pay for using the highway, and I was so distressed that any resemblance of rational brainpower went down the drain. Then I saw a sign on the highway "HIGHWAY POLICE". My saviors, my darlings. They escorted!!!! me back to the right drive up and made sure I came home securely :-) In hindsight it's something to laugh about, and I do so, but back then I was a wrack.

But I have to confess, it was the best way to learn to look out for signposting. Since then I drove to many locations in France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Lichtenstein (I love motoring) and thanks to this "shock cure" I never had the same problem again :-))))

3) I am a list maniac. Not so much in daily life, even though I still make a list of to-do things, but really bad does it get where my books are concerned. Half a year ago I discovered Rosario's spreadsheet. And this lovely woman modified it for me so that I have tons of options as to how to categorize my books. I was so pleased with my new spreadsheet that I filled in my WHOLE back list, and looked the necessary information up in the internet. Number of pages, genre, imprint, etc... That was a real labor of love.

4) I love, love, love old films, especially the classic Hollywood film era. Everything from the early 50s up to 67 makes my heart beat faster. Not Westerns or criminal films, but love stories/dramas or musical adaptions with actors such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Gregory Peck, Cary Grant, David Niven ... AND AND AND - I could go on forever.

5) Well, and to finalize, something macabre. My hair burned three times. I have tons of hair on my head, about three times what the normal human being has to deal with. Because it doesn't grow like "normal" hair when it's short (it grows about 10cm upwards before it chooses the right direction downwards) I wear it long. The last time happened about ten years ago, thanks to a lovely candle that was on the window sill behind the couch I was sitting on. The first time happened in a restaurant, I was seven. I suddenly moved forward and my hair brushed the candle on the table. Thanks to the fast reaction of my father I only lost a strand. The second time was somewhere in between, I visited my aunt, and of course, it was another bad-behaving candle *g*.

OK, that's it.

Who am I going to tag now? My problem is that I don't know many blogs, but I think I will tag Elisa, she has a lovely blog kept in Italian and English.

Busy Christmas time

2007-01-06T15:05:00.000+01:00

I just discovered that I am not the most busiest of bloggers. My last post was over three weeks ago, not a very good beginning but I swear to better myself. It wasn't so much the lack of what to blog about - more a time question. During Christmas I usually achieve 1% of the planned 100%!
I didn't even read much, one bookring book, "Mr. Darcy's Daughter" by Elizabeth Aston, and Legend in Green Velvet by Elizabeth Peters. The first is not worth much, out of five daughters only two are interesting and likeable - the others are either bigot do-gooder or irresponsible twits.
The Elizabeth Peters was better, of course, - a solid B again - but nothing compared to her Amelia Peabody series (of which I consider myself a very BIG fan).

I didn't even find the time to browse in bloglandia - and that's a real shame, because normally I can't survive without my daily dose of KarenS, Dear Author.com and Rosario's Reading Journal.

Anyway, while trying to read up a mile high pile of new posts I discovered that Rosario has tagged me. Bien. I am absolutely new to this. I've never been tagged before but I am thrilllllled - especially because she did it on the 4th of January - the day I became 27 (I feeeeeeeeeel so damn old. Jesus.)

But for this tagging business I think I will start a new post. À bientôt.

Virginia Henley - Bold Conquest

2006-12-10T14:34:00.000+01:00

Grade: F

All right, this book defenitely earns the title "worst roamance of the year". Unfortunately I was already half through the story when it started to get really disgusting - and I just couldn't put it away. So I suffered through a number of demeaning scenes I decided gracefully to "share" with you.

The blurb:

HE CONQUERED HER LAND, BUT WAS FORCED TO FIGHT FOR HIS HEART When Guy de Montgomery's Norman army swept across the countryside, claiming all in its path, the fairest prize of war was the lovely Lillyth of Godstone Hall. But the gallant lord was so captivated by the green-eyed beauty with the flaming red hair, he knew he had to win her heart. He was challenged by both friend and foe for the enchanting Lillyth. And Lillyth could not help but fall in love with the fiery lord who protected her from the brutality of others. In the warmth of his embrace she discovered the exquisite beauty of love's passion. Even as the lingering hostilities threatened to keep them apart, Lillyth knew that her heart had been won more surely than the land. And the conqueror, too, had become the hopeless captive of a woman's love.

This story was first published in 1983 - my copy is a reprint from 1993. I can't even believe that this horrible rape scenario got reprinted, not to speak of the fact that it's still available through Amazon! I have just checked. Brenda Joyce's Conqueror first got published in 1990. Lucky me the whipping scenes started right away so I didn't feel bad about breaking it up. I am quite sure that Bold Conquest, Henley's second romance novel, was the inspiration for many more such humiliating romance novels.

Ok, what happened?

Isn't there a proverb that says "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me" ? Well, in this case it should say: "Rape me once, shame on you, rape me twice, stupid me, rape me thrice, please just kill me" - or some such thing.

The first time our feisty heroine Lillyth gets raped is during the marriage night by her first husband. Of course this husband has in reality a penchant for young boys, so he saves her precious maidenhead and sodomizes her. (The heroine kills him later, of course).

The second time she is raped by the hero himself. Guy has claimed Lillyth for himself and thinks she gives her favours to everyone but him. Enraged he throws her onto the bed and puts his "lance" into her - realizes she is still a virgin and becomes all contrite. Of course, our feisty heroine has fallen in love with him, forgives him, enter the flowery, lusty love scenes à la Henley.

What else happens? I admit, I skipped some pages, so I don't know if I've missed some gory details.

At one time they have a dispute, I think because Lillyth was jealous of a strumpet, she then provoked Guy by flirting with the king's brother. Guy is furious and hits her across the face, heavily. After a period of a collective "not talking to each other" - they are riding out. Lillyth behaves like a nitwit without two braincells, Guy of course doesn't want to be provoked. He takes her horse away and lets her walk home - about four or five miles. During this "cleansing" walk Lillyth's anger towards Guy leaves and turns against herself. When he comes to her she falls at his knees and cries for forgiveness.

One day Lillyth and Guy decide to get married. Of course the fair Lillyth doesn't know that Guy is already married and has a wife and two children. All comfortably tucked away in Normandy. Lillyth becomes pregnant, she finds out about his marriage and her mother gives her some berries to abort the child.
After a time of not talking to each other (sounds familiar?), Guy can't hold his manly lustful thoughts in check and more or less forcefully seduces Lillyth. Her body reacts to him, but her mind tries to resist - it ends with Guy's sophisticated shout "that all women are bitches!"

Lillyth flees, becomes the Mistress of the king's brother (of course she doesn't climax with him, because he treats her too nice and she is accustomed to Guy's forceful "uh" eroticism).

Tadadatadatada - after shipping around for about nine month, Lillyth bears Guy's child and decides she still loves her husband and goes home. Meanwhile Guy fortunately remembered that he has a wife and two daughters, therefore he decides to fulfill his fatherly duties, yadadadadada

The ending is sappy, full of sweet talk and love. ARGGGGG. I have read some other rape novels, but except for two Woodiwiss (in German) I never finished one. I can't believe that such a book ever got published!

Me tooooo ;-)

2006-12-09T22:40:00.000+01:00

After all this talk about blogs, reading journals and its merrits I started my own blog. I am not sure I will be able to post about every book I read, but it's an interesting way of at least trying it *g*.

Portia Da Costa - The Tutor

2006-12-09T20:47:00.001+01:00

Grade: B-

Ok, my first review :-) The Tutor by Portia Da Costa came to my attention thanks to a review from Rosario's Reading Journal. It sounded interesting and of course I always wanted to try out more Black Lace titles. I normally don't do erotica well, I prefer HEAs, stories that involve monogamous couples (or trios) and a solid plot to give me something more to read than sex scenes. But Black Lace got Emma Holly famous and I adore that woman! I've read another title from this line that has got an A- from me: Out of Bounds by Mandy Dickinson - a sexy ménage à trois with a lovely happy ending. ~~(I am NOT mentioning those approximately ten German translations I have suffered through where one story was worse than the last...).~~

Here's the blurb:

When Rosalind Howard becomes Julian Hadey's private librarian, she soon finds herself attracted by his persuasive charms and distinguished appearance. He is an unashamed sensualist, a man of wealth and intellect who, together with his libidinous wife, Celeste, has hatched an intriguing challenge for their new employee. As well as cataloguing their extensive archive of erotica, Rosie is expected to educate Celeste's young and beautiful cousin in the arts of erotic love. Having led a sheltered life, the young man is simmering with youthful passion. In luxurious surroundings, they find themselves drawn into increasingly decadent scenarios where experimental sex is on the menu and like minded libertines reap the rewards of unbridled desire.

OK, first to what I really enjoyed.
The characterisation is fabulous. All persons, be it the heroine Rosie, David the gorgeous but nervous 19 year old, the married couple Julian and Celeste or the crazy fitness trainer Ladybird - all were truly likable. A bunch of great people who are sexually liberated, but don't judge those who are more inhibited or insecure (like Rosie for example). I have often experienced that minor characters tend to be portrayed too friendly, stereotype or sweet - like in your average Harlequin publication. But that wasn't the case with this book. Despite their amiable ways they didn't loose any credibility.

Rosie may be your average librarian as we know them from countless other romances, a little voluptuous, insecure and without much self-worth, but as the story continues she gradually moves on and starts to enjoy her own sexuality and discovers that heterosexuality may not the only key to sexual bliss. Except for Emma Holly's f/f scenes this was the first time that I didn't skip love scenes between two women.

I also had a weakness for Julian. Admittedly, I always have a weakness for dark, sophisticated, sexually experienced heroes, who have a certain alpha quality to themselves without being so overly exaggerated as it happens unfortunately too often.

The plot is practically nonexistent, but I didn't mind at all because the sex scenes were totally entertaining and sufficient. No skipping any pages and no getting bored because of the nth "tab a in slot b" scene.

I found myself in a situation where I couldn't put that book away, it was entertaining, captivating and truly sexy ... right up to a sex scene during the 2nd third. Up until then I truly thought I would keep the book and give it a nice place on my shelf besides Emma Holly's Black Lace editions.

I am contemplating if this scene could be considered a spoiler - I am really not sure, because it doesn't actually concern the plot (which isn't very difficult), it's just one more sex scene - one that felt like the proverbial cold shower. But because it happens later on in the story you might want to think about reading on.

Before I start elaborating I want to say that I've read a number of D/s novels, some I enjoyed very much, some appeared as if the author didn't know what he/she was writing about and then there were those who were too extreme for my tastes. I have read BDSM stories about heterosexuals, bisexuals and gay couples - and it didn't make a difference to me, I either liked them or not - because of the love scenes, and nothing else.

During the second third of The Tutor Julian has a short intermezzo with his chauffeur. That Julian I described before as dark, brooding, and dominant but who is also a very adorable guy. I wouldn't have minded to read a D/s scene were Julian simply switched to bottom and cried because of the sexual intensity of the event, but as a female reader I find it a total turn off if the afore mentioned sexy guy becomes a whining, effeminate kind of person I don't recognise and can't stand at all.

Perhaps I am standing alone with this opinion, but after reading that scene I was so disappointed because all those highly erotic scenes that happened between Rosie and Julian appeared fake and played and I just knew that I would never reread this book.

Weeel, nevertheless I am looking forward to my second Portia Da Costa novel, The Stranger, I am currently trading for. First, it has a HEA, always a big plus for me, and I've read some really nice reviews about it....

REVIEWS A to Z

2006-12-09T19:13:00.000+01:00

D
Da Costa, Portia - The Tutor [Erotica], Grade B-, December 2006

H
Henley, Virginia - Bold Conquest [Medieval], Grade F, December 2006