The new RT features a cover story on Celeste Bradley and her new Heiress Brides trilogy. The premise is that three cousins, girls from respectable merchant class families, are competing to see who can be the first to marry a duke. Each book is based on a different fairy tale, and they will be released in March, April, and May. The library has ordered all of them, so check the catalog to reserve your copy. Other feature stories include a discussion of thrillers set in hospitals, and movie versions that do or don’t stack up to the books they are based on. You will also find an update on the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in April. Author spotlights include HelenKay Dimon, Karen White, Gemma Halliday and Joan Johnston. As always, there are reader columns in the Fan Forum section, and 250 book reviews. If you find something you’d like to read and it’s not on the shelf, stop by the Reference Desk and ask. We are always happy to find you a book!Friday, February 15, 2008
March Romantic Times now on the shelf
The new RT features a cover story on Celeste Bradley and her new Heiress Brides trilogy. The premise is that three cousins, girls from respectable merchant class families, are competing to see who can be the first to marry a duke. Each book is based on a different fairy tale, and they will be released in March, April, and May. The library has ordered all of them, so check the catalog to reserve your copy. Other feature stories include a discussion of thrillers set in hospitals, and movie versions that do or don’t stack up to the books they are based on. You will also find an update on the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in April. Author spotlights include HelenKay Dimon, Karen White, Gemma Halliday and Joan Johnston. As always, there are reader columns in the Fan Forum section, and 250 book reviews. If you find something you’d like to read and it’s not on the shelf, stop by the Reference Desk and ask. We are always happy to find you a book!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
On the Book Cart
The spies have it on the new book cart this week, with several historical romances that feature experts in espionage. The library already owned half of Celeste Bradley’s Royal Four – One Night with a Spy and Surrender to a Wicked Spy – and we have now filled in the quartet with Seducing the Spy and To Wed a Scandalous Spy. Each book features one of four elite spies who answer only to the king and lead double lives in order to cover their clandestine activities. These books include a lot of intrigue as well as romance.
Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady features Annique Villiers, one of France’s most elusive espionage agents, as she matches wits with British master spy Robert Grey. The two are forced to form an unlikely partnership while escaping from France to England, both bent on using the same information to further their very different causes.
Lauren Willig’s The Seduction of the Crimson Rose is out in hardcover. This is the fourth in her series about England’s espionage during the Napoleonic Wars. All feature spies with floral code names, and include a romantic element along with the intrigue. The library owns all of the previous books, so if you like this one, you can go back and read the rest.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Lawyers in Love
Seduce MeBy Carly Phillips
This contemporary is a reissue of Phillips’ 2001 Harlequin Romance Erotic Invitation. It’s a fairly typical “devastatingly handsome alpha male discovers smart, sexy heroine beneath bun and glasses” story, but the author has created enjoyable characters with enough depth to give this book a little more substance than a standard category romance.
Brainy Mallory Sinclair is determined to make partner at her prestigious law firm, a bastion of “old boy” clubishness. To that end, she adopts the bun, glasses, and boxy suits that hide as much of her femininity as possible, and is all business, all the time when at the office. However, she secretly lusts over Jack “The Terminator” Latham, the firm’s top divorce attorney, who specializes in terminating marriages with the most favorable financial outcome for his clients. Having grown up watching his parents’ highly dysfunctional marriage, Jack holds no illusions about true love and has no desire to settle down – ever. Every female employee in the firm harbors the belief that all it would take to change his mind is the right woman, and that she is that woman. The only one who doesn’t believe she will be the one to turn his head is Mallory. It seems she has spent her life being not quite good enough for her parents, and thus has a pretty low opinion of her own self worth. And so, her unrequited lust for Jack would have remained just that, if it weren’t for The Really Important Client.
The Really Important Client, one Paul Lederman, has quite a few businesses to manage and one wife that he would like to be rid of. He has summoned Jack to his resort to determine whether or not he wants to retain him as his divorce lawyer. Knowing other firms would love to get Lederman’s business, and that having a woman on the team would be advantageous, Jack and the other partners decide to send Mallory along with him. And so off they go to the resort and proximity makes Jack start to wonder what Mallory would be like if she ever let her hair down, literally and figuratively. When the Ice Queen refuses to thaw, however, Jack makes the mistake of referring to her as “frigid.” Never one to refuse a challenge, Mallory decides to prove him wrong. What starts out as hot flirtation leads to romantic feelings on both sides, but the two have to struggle to get past their emotional baggage in order to make the relationship work.
Jack and Mallory are both likeable characters with believable issues. Mallory’s about face from uptight and insecure to brazen seductress was a little too sudden to ring true, but the teasing cat and mouse game she and Jack play is fun and allows for a gradual, steady increase in emotional and sexual tension. Also, Jack does a pretty quick turnaround from bachelor-about-town to Mr. Ready-to-Settle-Down. I think in a longer book the characters’ changes of heart wouldn’t seem so abrupt and would therefore be more believable. The chauvinism Mallory encounters at work also seems a little contrived, even for a stuffy law firm; the feeling was a little too 1980 for a current romance. These quibbles aside, Seduce Me is a fun, quick read. While it will never make my list of all time favorites, it was good enough that I would be willing to pick up one of the author’s newer, longer releases.
The Really Important Client, one Paul Lederman, has quite a few businesses to manage and one wife that he would like to be rid of. He has summoned Jack to his resort to determine whether or not he wants to retain him as his divorce lawyer. Knowing other firms would love to get Lederman’s business, and that having a woman on the team would be advantageous, Jack and the other partners decide to send Mallory along with him. And so off they go to the resort and proximity makes Jack start to wonder what Mallory would be like if she ever let her hair down, literally and figuratively. When the Ice Queen refuses to thaw, however, Jack makes the mistake of referring to her as “frigid.” Never one to refuse a challenge, Mallory decides to prove him wrong. What starts out as hot flirtation leads to romantic feelings on both sides, but the two have to struggle to get past their emotional baggage in order to make the relationship work.
Jack and Mallory are both likeable characters with believable issues. Mallory’s about face from uptight and insecure to brazen seductress was a little too sudden to ring true, but the teasing cat and mouse game she and Jack play is fun and allows for a gradual, steady increase in emotional and sexual tension. Also, Jack does a pretty quick turnaround from bachelor-about-town to Mr. Ready-to-Settle-Down. I think in a longer book the characters’ changes of heart wouldn’t seem so abrupt and would therefore be more believable. The chauvinism Mallory encounters at work also seems a little contrived, even for a stuffy law firm; the feeling was a little too 1980 for a current romance. These quibbles aside, Seduce Me is a fun, quick read. While it will never make my list of all time favorites, it was good enough that I would be willing to pick up one of the author’s newer, longer releases.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Romantic Double Feature
Before Sunrise and Before Sunset
Written and Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke
Sometimes the “To Be Read” pile doesn’t hold any appeal, and you just want to park yourself in front of the TV. Rather than torture yourself with the very thin selection of shows left by the Hollywood writers’ strike, pop in a DVD. Two of my favorite romantic movies feature the same couple at two different points in their lives. In Before Sunrise we meet Jesse and Celine,
two college students on a train to Venice. Jesse is an American who has recently been dumped by his girlfriend and has spent the last six weeks traveling around Europe. Celine is a young French woman on her way back to Paris and her university studies after a visit with her grandmother. The two strike up a conversation and soon Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna, where he is to catch a flight home the next morning. Since he doesn’t have enough money for a hotel, he plans to just spend the night walking around the city and seeing the sights. Celine agrees to join in the adventure, and the rest of the movie follows their perambulations around Vienna as romance blossoms between them. As the sun rises, Jesse leaves Celine at the train station, and the two vow to meet again in six months. As the train rolls out of the station, and Jesse heads to the airport, we are left to wonder if these two ever do manage to follow up on their initial connection.
Apparently enough people wondered that writer/director Richard Linklater and his two stars decided to make a sequel. Before Sunset takes place nine years after the original, and we once again meet Jesse and Celine, this time in Paris. Jesse has written a book about his night in Vienna with Celine, and is on a European book tour. Celine shows up at a book signing, and we get to find out what has transpired since we last saw the two. Once again Jesse has a plane to catch, but the two have several hours to spend catching up and wandering around Paris. We learn what directions their lives have taken, and start hoping once again that the two will connect before the credits roll.
Both of these films are emotionally satisfying, with excellent acting and beautiful scenery. What a great way to satisfy a romance craving if you don’t feel like cracking the spine of a book!
two college students on a train to Venice. Jesse is an American who has recently been dumped by his girlfriend and has spent the last six weeks traveling around Europe. Celine is a young French woman on her way back to Paris and her university studies after a visit with her grandmother. The two strike up a conversation and soon Jesse convinces Celine to get off the train with him in Vienna, where he is to catch a flight home the next morning. Since he doesn’t have enough money for a hotel, he plans to just spend the night walking around the city and seeing the sights. Celine agrees to join in the adventure, and the rest of the movie follows their perambulations around Vienna as romance blossoms between them. As the sun rises, Jesse leaves Celine at the train station, and the two vow to meet again in six months. As the train rolls out of the station, and Jesse heads to the airport, we are left to wonder if these two ever do manage to follow up on their initial connection.Apparently enough people wondered that writer/director Richard Linklater and his two stars decided to make a sequel. Before Sunset takes place nine years after the original, and we once again meet Jesse and Celine, this time in Paris. Jesse has written a book about his night in Vienna with Celine, and is on a European book tour. Celine shows up at a book signing, and we get to find out what has transpired since we last saw the two. Once again Jesse has a plane to catch, but the two have several hours to spend catching up and wandering around Paris. We learn what directions their lives have taken, and start hoping once again that the two will connect before the credits roll.
Both of these films are emotionally satisfying, with excellent acting and beautiful scenery. What a great way to satisfy a romance craving if you don’t feel like cracking the spine of a book!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
On the Book Cart
The latest Stephanie Laurens hardcover, Where the Heart Leads, looks like a nice combination of romance and mystery. Laurens is well known for her spicy Regency romances, and this novel is set in that same time period and loosely connected to her works featuring the Cynsters. The heroine, Lady Penelope Ashford, enlists the assistance of the Honorable Barnaby Adair. Lady Penelope has devoted herself to providing assistance to the orphans of London’s worst slums, and lately many of these children have gone missing. Adair has made a name for himself as an amateur detective, and because of his social status has access to all levels of society. The two join forces to solve the mystery, and of course, romance ensues. Also on the cart this week is The Accidental Countess, by Melissa Schroeder. This is another historical with an element of suspense, featuring a young lady who rescues a man she finds passed out in the snow. Before you can say “compromising position” they are forced to marry. All is not happily ever after though, since someone is apparently trying to kill the earl and his new bride. If your taste runs more to paranormal, pick up the new Lynsay Sands novel, The Accidental Vampire. The latest in her Argeneau series, the book features Elvi Black, who has recently become a vampire through no fault of her own, and Victor Argeneau, undead for centuries and incredibly handsome in spite of his advanced age. This one looks like a lot of fun.
As always, if there is an author or book you are having trouble finding, just let us know -- we are happy to help! 
As always, if there is an author or book you are having trouble finding, just let us know -- we are happy to help!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Book Recommendations Delivered to Your Inbox – FREE!!
Sometimes it’s tough to find the time to browse the stacks or keep track of new releases. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten halfway home from the library and suddenly remembered the book I meant to look for or request – and I work here! One way to make sure that you always have something a good book at hand is to sign up for our NextReads e-newsletter. NextReads provides book synopses for both new releases and older titles that fall into the “Good books you might have missed” category. Even better, each entry links directly to our online catalog, so you can reserve a title while you’re still thinking about it! The Romance newsletter comes out monthly, and usually contains six to twelve titles to choose from, as well as updates on things going on in the library. If you are a fan of other genres, you can sign up for those newsletters as well. Sign-up is quick and easy; just click on the link below!
Friday, February 1, 2008
So You Want to be a Romance Writer.....
On Writing Romance
By Leigh Michaels
Have you always dreamed of being the next Nora Roberts? Or did you close the last romance novel you read and say to yourself, “I could do this?” If so, maybe it’s time to stop dreaming and start doing. Before you put pen to paper though, you might want to check out On Writing Romance: How to Craft a Novel that Sells. Author Leigh Michaels has published over eighty contemporary romances and teaches writing workshops online.
Her book for aspiring authors is full of helpful advice on all aspects of writing and publishing a romance, starting with “Getting Ready to Write” and finishing up with “Submitting Your Romance Novel.” She also includes samples of query and cover letters, a list of romance publishers, and a reading list. This is a well organized, easy to follow guide to writing any kind of romance. It includes excellent examples and practical advice. If you are truly interested in writing in this category, picking up this book will be a great first step.
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