Playing for Keeps

Playing for Keeps (A Novel of Family and Love)  by Kate Perry has the makings of a "Hallmark Channel Original Movie"

But what struck me the most, is the main character's struggle with fear. We have all struggled with fear, but how  much do we allow that fear to keep us from achieving are dreams?  In the case of the book, that fear was keeping her from a relationship and a career, but what about you?  What's your fear?  Is it fear of getting hurt, making your self vulnerable, that inevitable rejection letter?  Or perhaps it's fear of actually succeeding, and then what?   

My fear of rejection with my writing is only surpassed by my fear of NOT writing.  For my writers out there, don't let your fears keep you from pursuing your dreams. (Today's inspirational blog brought to you by all those sappy sayings online!  I'm sure it's only temporary, and I'll be back to my cynical self in no time! ;) )

Passion's Tide

I love to read works from new authors.  This latest read did not disappoint and I see a future in romance books for this young lady.  The book is Passion's Tide by Sarah West.  I was pretty impressed with the quality of story for such a novice author.  There were a couple of side story lines that I would have liked to see developed further but I suppose they leave Ms West with potential fodder for future books.   This was a fun quick historical romance. I was so impressed that I looked up the author.  I wonder which is more delicious, the characters in this book or the food she's got pictures of on her blog?  Since I've never tasted the food, I'm going to have go with the characters!  I look forward to forward to, hopefully, future stories from her.

The marriage list

It's been a while since I lasted posted but the holiday season seemed to take me by surprise this year.  That doesn't mean though that I haven't been reading. As a matter of fact, I recently finished a sweet, quick romance called The Marriage List, by Dorothy McFalls.   This is my first read of this fairly new author's work but she seems to be off to a great start.  I'm sure as she continues evolve in her craft, we can expect to see great works in the future.  I loved that the characters weren't "perfect", though, I'm disappointed that she seemed to "fix" them in the end.  I know that one of the attractions to romance books is the "happily ever after", but every once in a while I'd like to see the characters content in there "imperfections".  For my romance readers out there; do you prefer to escape to a world where everything always works out in the end or something a little closer to reality?

Promising start, disappointing finish

Well to pick up where I left off, I finished Love's Portrait (Historical Erotic Romance) by Monica Burns.  In the end, the author tried to get the reader to see how a bondage situation can go from degrading to enjoyable  with the right person in the right situation.  It didn't work for me.  I just found it hard to believe that a woman who'd been as victimized as this character was supposed to be would put herself in that situation, regardless of the man.  That is not to say, that a woman who's been victimized in the past can't learn to let go and learn to love and enjoy again but those types of scars are not easily overcome and so the situation wasn't a believable one for me.

Passion Remembered or Wished for?

The best stories are those that evoke a strong feeling in us whether good or bad.  They disturb something inside us.  The word disturbs often carries with it a bad connotation but in this case that would be false.   If a stories does not move you in some way then it was merely words on a page.  A good romance novel will also evoke some sort of emotional reaction as well.  Granted those emotions tend to be on a lighter or more uplifting tone but it's an emotional response nonetheless.
I have found, though, that the emotion a good romance inspires can be put into one of two categories.  (Feel free to disagree.)  Either the story will have you remembering your own similar experience or it will having you wishing or yearning for such an experience.  I believe that this can also have an effect as to which romance books you tend to gravitate too.  (Which ones do I gravitate to?  Well that would be like kissing and telling now wouldn't it!)  For example,  I would say that those who generally reach for the more innocent and simplistic romance of say a Pride and Prejudice are probably going for the remembrance of a feeling, while those who gravitate  to say the Fifty Shade of Grey trilogy are more apt to be looking to vicariously live such an experience.    This is not to say that one can't enjoy both. But merely, the reading experience is at opposite ends of the spectrum.
The book currently on the kindle is Love's Portrait (Historical Erotic Romance) by Monica Burns which tries to straddle the line and incorporate both a side that many would wish for while trying to maintain the simple purity of love at it's core.  I'm about half way done and aside from getting annoyed at the mistakes a mediocre editor should have caught (red sheets on one page are suddenly white on another), the story is still intriguing enough to keep my attention.  At this point, it has me feeling...reckless is the word that comes to mind. But we'll see, the night is still young!  

Excuse Me While I Climb Onto My Soapbox

We interrupt this blog, so I may say a few words about a romance related matter.  I LOVE romance stories.   However, I recognize that, at least the ones most featured on this blog, are FICTION.  That means not real! Most, if not all of you, are probably now thinking, "well, duh!" and "What's your point?".  The point is this:  If we recognize that these are beautiful but fictional stories, why do we approach are real life relationships as though they should mimic fiction?!?  Many women believe, or behave as though they believe, that the relationship should always be about the passion and/or sexual attraction.  There is no such thing as a perfect man, but you can have a wonderful beautiful relationship as long as your willing to put forth the effort.  Relationships take hard work!  There will be dark times in every relationship.  The trick is to get through it TOGETHER!  How often have we heard someone say they have fallen out of love??  That's crap!  What it means is I no longer want to put the effort into making this relationship work!  It takes two and it takes a dose of reality mixed with even bigger helpings of hope and prayer.   Trust and Communication are the biggest factors in determining how well a relationship will hold up under pressure.  We need to stop expecting some man to magically know what we are thinking and to have all the answers and start being real with ourselves and acknowledging that we all have a responsibility and role that we play in our relationships.  To all the young ladies out there this is not intended to make you despair but rather to encourage you.  There is a prince charming out there for everyone but he won't come without flaws and it'll take hard work but if you are both willing to put forth the effort you can have the kind of relationship that romance writers write about.  

Walking in a character's footsteps

So I've been a tad lax on my posts as of late, so I was told.  However, I've been on vacation which has actually afforded me an opportunity to finish quite a few books.  Currently on the kindle though is a classic, Victor Hugo's Les Miserables.  I've decided to go back and re-read some of the classics.  This book, though reminds me of why I'm such a romance fan.  Probably for the same reason that I'm a Disney fan, it's the "Happily Ever After" part.  While Les Miserables is a great book, I don't need to be reminded about the pain and suffering in the world.  That's what the evening news is for.  Rather, books are my escape from reality.  Of course that's just my perspective and I know plenty of you like a little more realism in your books.  Which do you prefer?  Speaking of not stories that are not too realistic.  One of the books I've read while on vacation is a fantasy romance called "Suddenly a Bride" by Ruth Ann Nordin. It was a perfect vacation book in that it was short and sweet.  Coincidentally,  the story took place in the Florida pan handle which is where I went on vacation.  A book takes on a whole other dimension when you find yourself in the very places the story references.  I was in Pensacola which also happens to be where Ann Rice had a condo (she has since sold it) and wrote Blackwood Farm there.  Ever read a book in which you found yourself walking in the same places as the character?  I'll follow up with some of the other books I've read on this trip in the future, but for now the pool is calling!