Orchid and Peach Cocktails
We read romance novels - the good, the bad and the anal - for fun. Then we review them here!
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Love is a universal desire.
Perhaps the “romance” genre, which goes from Pride and Prejudice to 50 Shades of Grey, is too broad. But this is true of all genres.
You don’t write into a vacuum, so it’s important to really think about the audience.
Romance as trojan horse - using the genre to cover a hidden message.
There is a lot of academic research behind most romance novels.
Look out for 50 Bales of Hay - erotica with an interesting agricultural message.
One of the authors actually had nightmares from her own writing.
Gestation of story = gestation of child???
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How they came to write romance
“I didn’t choose to write the book, it chose me. ““I don’t see myself as a romantic writer.”
Is it difficult to be taken seriously, as women or as romantic authors?
“If women are happy, I’ve done my job.”Watch this space!! Another 45 minutes left on this panel!
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Photo reblogged from Rudi in Romancelandia
I don’t know who I love more right now; past-Julia Quinn or the bookseller who wrote this note.
(Source: thatlibrarianthere)
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Review: The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan
Swoon Factor: Keep your smelling salts handy
Reviewer: Rudi
Not too long ago one of our followers suggested we check out Courtney Milan’s novella, The Governess Affair. At the time (and possibly even now?) the ebook was available to download for free in a whole bunch of places so naturally, I took the opportunity to get myself a copy. And I’m so glad that I did.
Selena Barton has set herself up outside the Duke of Clermont’s home until he agrees to compensate her for getting her fired from her position as a governess. Unfortunately for her, the duke set’s his man of business, Hugo Marshall on her. Hugo is also known as the Wolf of Clermont and is absolutely ruthless about protecting the duke’s (and by extension his own) interests.
As they engage in a battle of wits they begin to develop a respect and understanding for each other but, as is often the way of these things, neither Selena or Hugo are in a position to back down.
It all sounds reasonably straight forward, right? Wrong. There is so much going on in this novella, but the unfolding of each new twist is half the fun so I’m leery of giving too much away. There were moments when I was sure I knew exactly what was about to happen, or I was bracing myself for ginormous leaps in logic and pacing only to have Milan side step it all.
Novella’s aren’t normally my style when it comes to reading romance. Generally they feel a little too rushed for me to believe in the HEA but that really wasn’t the case with The Governess Affair. I’ll admit to a few moments when I wanted more, but by the end of the novella I felt secure.
That said, it was obviously written to be a teaser for the Sinister Series. In this way the brevity worked so very well. I was definitely left wanting more by the time I finished. Not to detract from the skill and artistry of Milan’s writing but that’s some seriously clever marketing right there. I’m sure I’m not the only person who will have downloaded The Governess Affair only to get hooked in so deep they *need* to get the rest of the series.
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Quote reblogged from ELOISA JAMESWaite says that romance novels are the place in our culture where “women are seen enjoying sex, desiring a partner, and having orgasms that are about feeling orgasmic rather than merely looking orgasmic.” Grant puts it succinctly, “romance is one of the few places where a woman is a subject in sex, rather than an object.” As often as one is likely to see a romance trope that feels old and regressive, one will read a scene where the hero cannot wait to pleasure the heroine with oral sex. Looking around at pop culture at large, there is no other space where such scenes happen, especially not regularly.
Hey, here I am in the Atlantic Sexes blog with a bunch of smart, feminist romance authors, who have smart things to say about feminism, and romance, and where the two may or may not overlap. (via oliviawaite)
People say to me: do you let your son read the sex in your novels? My point of view: I would like him to learn to be generous, gentle and loving in bed with a woman, like my heroes. Someday.
(via ladiesmostly)
- Have we reblogged this before? I don’t know - putting up anyway because this is what I try to tell people when they look down on me for reading romance.
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An excerpt of “Goodnight Tweetheart” was at the back of Teresa Medeiros’ The Devil Wears Plaid (which I enjoyed) but the majority of the excerpt is a conversation via twitter between Abby Donovan and Mark Baynard.
I don’t even know how he found her tweet to reply to because he wasn’t folliwing her nor did she use a hashtag. Um, that’s not how twitter works, my love.
I’m not sure where the story is going, but if Abby agrees to meet with a stranger via twitter (also tweets are public!) - stop, girl! Stranger danger, anyone?
I think new media can and should be included in contemporary fiction, but there are a few guidelines authors need to follow:
- Twitter/IM/text message conversations should not go for more than a page. Break it up with a little exposition. If I want to stalk/lurk on Twitter, I’ll use a computer not a book.
- Research how it works, its politics and style, so real life users aren’t alienated.
- Remember, media and technology references (as well as many other things) will date the content. Could you imagine reading a novel that heavily featured MySpace? Use sparingly to add zest but not confuse future readers.What do you guys think? Can you think of a book in which the author has made a few novice mistakes with technology or media? Any industry professionals out there who’ve cringed over mistakes made by the nurse/doctor/policeman/lawyer/accountant/etc character? Tell us the gory details!
Also, Rudi promised to give me the name of a book which features fairly well written uses of twitter and technology! Watch this space - I’d like to review it if possible!
-Sam
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We received an email from the lovely petrichorandpie letting us know that Courtney Milan’s novella The Governess Affair is currently available for FREE!
That in itself is a reason to download it but added to the fact that Courtney Milan is coming with the recommendation of being petrichorandpie’s favourite author means I’m that little bit more excited.
And keep a look out because I will certainly be writing a review of it as well.
Rudi
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The only thing better than a cheap book is a free book! There is a novella by Victoria Dahl on Amazon going for the bargain price of $0.00 (e-book only).
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Book: Lover at Last
Series: Black Dagger Brotherhood
Number: 11
Author: J R Ward
Publication date: March 2012
Genre/sub genre: Paranormal
Reviewer: Sarah
Swoon Factor: I’m not feeling anything but disgust.
Um I hated this book. If it had been a hardcopy and not an ecopy I would have thrown it across my flat so many times.
I was so looking forward to it and it just didn’t do it. First off J R Ward’s books have always been crack, they’re flawed but so damn addictive I can look past the flaws. This time there was nowhere to hide. I’m just going to list the ways it failed because I’m struggling to find anything nice to say.
- The sex was terrible. I don’t want to read about ‘penetration’ unless I’m back in year 6 sex ed. There is nothing sexy about that. To quote Fat Amy ‘Not a good enough reason to use the word penetrate’
-Penetrating what? Ward has a ton of names for vagina but can’t say butt? arse? ass? bottom? or come up with anything? I get the feeling that a lot of this is tied up in homophobic censorship. Yep I said it.
- Layla’s needing. So when Bella went through her needing every time she had sex it got worse, she needed sex and sex and sex and sex and Zsadist was practically in a coma by the end. But Quinn leaves her? after one go? to suffer through her needing? yes I get it he’s gay but at that point he’s unaware of that and having sex with women all over the shop.
- Layla get’s preggerz after one go. Similar to Bella, but was it not stressed with Bella that it’s super rare for pregnancy to happen straight away? or is this just a vamp myth much like the human equivalent?
- Layla’s romance with Xcor. Book 12 or 13? and awkward. so Awkward… does he actually put his finger to her mouth to stop her talking? and no kissing? whut?
-Xcor’s ‘disfigurement’. What is his disfigurement? did I miss something? or is it like Qhuinn’s different coloured eyes? a total non issue that J R Ward is trying to make seem terrible?
-J R Ward’s disability BS. Has J R Ward ever met a person with a disability? she treats Wrath’s vision impairment like it’s the end of the world and totally justifies his lying (by omission) to Beth about babies. Obviously this is an issue that has carried on since the first book but it’s really bugging me. As someone who has grown up around people with disability’s I feel like J R Ward really needs to talk to someone with disability about how it’s not the end of their life.
-Qhuinn’s virginity. So it’s not true love unless someone brings their virginity along with them?
-Qhuinn’s losing of said virginity. 1. it didn’t hurt, so it doesn’t always have to hurt but BLAY DIDN’T LUBE UP. 2. Blay didn’t notice. In fact he just jammed his cock right in Qhuinn’s butt..
-Saxon isn’t a terrible guy, in fact he got treated like crap and that was like totes ok. NO IT WASN’T.
-Miscarriage. The magical cure for Layla’s almost miscarriage was just the worst. seriously. Just no.
So this is the worst review I’ve ever done. I don’t even know how to do this. I try and say something nice for every crap thing I say for a book but I can’t even come up with something nice. seriously. it was just that bad.
