'The Viscount Who Loved Me' by Julia Quinn -Review-

   Only JQ can take a plot line like; 'Guy has mortal fear of bee's, or, guy falls in love with girl but can't risk loving her because he thinks he is destined to die young' and make it GOLD! I admit to a subtle sliver of skepticism at first, but as the story unfolds and pieces of the puzzle are revealed, the story turns into one of a deep complexity that is driven by the inner struggles of the characters. Anthony Bridgerton is all set to marry! He's even got a bide in mind. One of the most notorious Rakes (upper-case) in London 1814, Anthony is ready to do his duty by his Viscount title and marry some chit to bare his children (before his early death, which he believes he is irrevocably destined for). A major stipulation in his acceptances of marriage is that he must not choose a wife for whom he could fall in love with. Convinced he will die and leave her soon, his pride won't allow him set that trap. But once said woman and himself are caught in a compromising position, his pans are all throw for a loop.

Read an excerpt: here

   Anthony Bridgerton will never be half the Viscount; no, half the MAN, his father was. Or at least, that's what he believes. Although, if you took him for what he truly was, you would see Anthony  as the most honorable, dedicated and pragmatic of individuals. Some of that logic and practicality will be tested by the reader as they dive into Anthony's reasons for believing he is fated to NOT live pass the age of 38 (maybe younger). His father, Edmund, was killed when Anthony was 18, by a bee. Ever since then, he's always had an eerier sense of his mortality He accepted his thought-fate and didn't fear death so much as he accepted it as the inevitable.
   After deciding to get married and get his duty to his title done with, he asks whose the 'Incomparable of 1814', and when he is informed that it is Edwina Sheffield, he instantly decides to direct his suit in her direction. He meets her, and believes her the perfect candidate for his wife, but her meddlesome sister will prove to be a problem.
   Kate Sheffield was very protective of her sister. The Sheffield's were 'financial stretching' as it were, and it was the consensus that Edwina's incomparable beauty will award her a beneficial match this season. Unfortunately, living besides the glow of her sisters magnificent beauty, Kate was often overlooked or used as a way to get in Edwina's good graces. Edwina boldly states at a ton function, that she would never marry someone without her sister's approval. This fact just exemplifies the bond of the sisters and the absence of jealousy. Kate has an idea of the type of guy who could make her sister happy, and Viscount Bridgerton isn't anywhere close to that ideal.
   As Anthony begins to work on Kate, unbeknownst to him, she's working her way through his every thought. Edwina was the safe choice; he felt no spark with her and knew she would serve his purpose well. Kate on the other hand, was a big red flag, and as he is overwhelmed with desire for her, he tries to tamper down his reactions to her.
   All doesn't go according to plan, when Anthony and Kate are caught in a compromising situation (HUGE and infuriating misunderstanding) and they both must marry. Anohony knows the bullet he was trying to avoid just got bigger, but the passions he evokes in his new wife is too irresistible.
   As Anthony begins to try and distance himself from is new bride, she (at first) believes it is because of his past preference in Edwina. He doesn't want to get oo close and devestate Kate with his inevitable young-death; but when he almost loses her, he realizes how much living for the present, loving for the present, is the most important thing.

Rating: 4 1/2 "Aww's"

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is when the bee stings Kate in front of Anthony and he is besides himself with panic. He pins her to the garden bench and proceeds to suck the 'poison' out of her chest where the bee stung when who should so happen to stumble upon them? His mother, her step-mother and Mrs.Featherington (London's biggest gossip). They now must marry! I just love how this scene ended up! It was sweet, romantic, emotional and dramatic all at the same time; and I feel it is one of the more poignant scenes in the book.

   Overall, this book was fabulous! In the Author's Notes, JQ explains that back when Anthony's father lived, they didn't understand the possibility of being allergic to bee's so his sudden death has an explanation behind it. I felt this book was wonderfully paced and well written. The character plights and the situations you find them in compels you to keep turn the page till there's no more left.

*Next book in this series is 'An Offer From A Gentleman' (Book 3), Benedict's story!/ My Review can be found: here

*Also from JQ, 'The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever'!!

-Read an excerpt from 'The Secret Diaries of Miranda Cheever': here

'The Duke And I' by Julia Quinn -Review-

   Stellar way to start off a series. The prologue reels you in and never lets go as this beautiful love story, with twist and turns aplenty, warms your heart. Not many people, if any, know the real reason why Simon Basset, The Duke of Hastings, is so hellbent on never marrying. When a plan to abate the tidal wave of marriage-minded mamas lands him at the alter beside the alluring Daphne Bridgerton, Simon will have to re-evaluate for whom he lives his life for and at what price will he auction off his one chance at happiness? For Paltry pride and sadly regular, male-species stubbornness, perhaps? (Uhg, Men)

Read an excerpt: here

   When Simon Basset was born, he was his father's prayers answered. The Duke and his Duchess had been trying to have a child (more accurately, an heir) for years; resulting in 5 miscarriages, 2 of which were still-born. Despite the professional advisement against conceiving ever again, the Duchess gave her life to do her duty as wife and give her husband his heir. Her sacrifice was in vain, or so the Duke thought, when at the age of 4, it was realized that Simon couldn't speak properly. His father's indifference to the son whom wasn't perfect and therefore was better off dead, only fueled a motivation in said son to not only speak with brilliance but to be brilliant. Simon's intelligences soon made itself visible for all to see, and as intended, his father regretted his cruel behavior towards his son way-back-when.
   Fast-forward to 1813, the death of his father and the end to his travels abroad; Simon is caught up in the social whirl once again. Being away from London for so long, he doesn't see the ambitious mamas plans for a full-blown assault until its too late. They are rearing and ready to sink there teeth into him, and Simon wants no part of it. After there is an odd encounter with the sister of his friend, Anthony Bridgerton, Simon soon finds himself dancing with her (once 'previous matters were taken care of'). Daphne Bridgerton is sort of the 'always-a-bridesmaid-never-a-bride' heroine, who is a normal and attractive female, but one whom men always seem to overlook. When Simon propositions her to form a mock-attachment so that he can evade tenacious social-climbers and so she can get the attentions she deserves, Daphne never expected to play her role TOO perfectly. She starts to fall in love with Simon, and after they are caught, in the garden at a ball in a compromising position, she is disheartened by Simon's vehement refusal to do as honor dictates. Anthony Bridgerton calls Simon out to a duel, and at one point, Daphne says " I've always known that I wasn't the sort of woman men dream of, but I never thought anyone would prefer death to marriage with me.".
   Suffice to say, Simon's reasons befuddled Daphne beyond comprehension, but she couldn't let the man she loved die! So she puts a stop to the duel and convinces Simon to marry her. Although she is understandably dismayed at his proclaiming an inability to give her the children he knows she wants, Daphne realizes she'd rather live with the man she loved than have babies with the man she didn't.
   Everything progress as planned, until Daphne begins to put 2 and 2 together and gets to the conclusion that her husband has been giving his seed to the sheets instead of to her womb (purposely using her ignorance to his benefit and preventing conception). His decision to withhold one of the greatest joys in life from Daphne stems from his hatred for his father and his determination to let the family line end with him. His emotional scars run deep, but his love for Daphne runs deeper; and eventually, he realizes that he should stop living to spite hid father and start living for himself (and for love).

Rating: 4 "Aww's"

My Favorite Part of the Book: Is when Daphne's mother has 'THE' talk with her right before her wedding day. It is so vague and strained that I started to feel embarrassed for Violet Bridgerton! At one point, Daphne, after her mother explains that a wife and husband engage in 'the marital act' and that's how a baby comes to be, asks her mother "Does that mean you did it 8 times?". Representing herself and her 7 brothers and sisters. Her mother is so flummoxed that she says No at first, which logically doesn't make since (no twins). It was a funny and cute scene and spilled over to the wedding night (or afternoon) when Daphne makes vocal assumptions that reflect the accusation that Simon is 'impotent' or 'unable to preform in the act' (which he proceeds to preform admirably, leaving now doubts in Daphne's head)

   I have daddy-issue's too, Simon! LOL! But the message and lesson this story provides, all while keeping the reader entertained is wonderful. Emotion wasn't in short supply with this novel, that's for sure. There was action, climax, hysterical pregnancies; what more could you ask for? It's pretty simple; Read this shining example of well-written literature!

*The next book in this series is 'The Viscount Who Loved Me'(Book 2), Anthony's Story!/ My Review can be found: here

*Also check out another fabulous JQ novel, 'To Catch An Heiress' ! The first JQ book for me. The one that started it all =]

I'm #1... Chronologically, Anyway

So my husband comes home last night with crawfish gelato.

That's right, I said CRAWFISH GELATO. That he made at work. On purpose. And it was good. We tried it, we liked it, and then he turns to me and says:

"I think I might just be the first person to make crawfish gelato, ever."

He's probably right, and he should be freaking proud of his accomplishment. He's been a chef half his life and this is the first time he's ever had the opportunity to say he's probably the first to do something.

That got me thinking, as is my wont...

There's been a lot of buzz lately about retold stories—see the DGLM blog post here. I've blogged about this before, and even tried my hand (and failed spectacularly) at one.

I don't mind reading a retold story. One of my favorite books of the past few years is Danielle Joseph's Shrinking Violet, which is more or less a Cinderella story. I haven't read Melinda Lo's Ash, but I imagine that the two stories are very different even though they are both basically derived from the same source. How hard could writing a retold story be, I thought?

Technically, Evangeline is sort of a retold story. It's loosely based on the Longfellow poem by the same name, in which a young woman loses her love during the Acadian diaspora and travels across the country to find him. I could have stuck with this plot, but instead—since I'd already decided this would be a time-travel romance before I'd even named the mc—I decided to change things to suit the story that was forming in my head.

Taking a loose idea and turning it into something completely new is much easier for me than, say, when I tried to rewrite Hansel and Gretel. I just couldn't figure out what else to do once I got them to the witch's house. I wanted to depart from the expected there, too, but I had no idea how to do that while still being true to the nature of the story. I wanted it to be about the kids tricking the witch instead of being eaten by her, but my mind kept trying to move AROUND the existing plot, not enliven what was already there.

That's when I realized I'd rather be writing something new, something exciting to me, something no one's ever written before.

I want to be the first!

The problem with that in writing is, well, are my ideas really that original? I guess the real question is, does anyone care if the story is written well and has engaging characters?

How important is being original? Does it really matter in the long run? What are your thoughts on the subject?


Don't forget to enter to win Paula Morris's RUINED!

Single Motherhood in Romance Comics - Love Me, Love My Child!

In keeping with the Memorial Day holiday of earlier this week, "Love Me, Love My Child" from Girls' Romances #153 (December 1970) seems a rather fitting story. Penciled by Arthur Peddy (according to the Grand Comics Database), this story recounts a heartbreaking realization made too late.

The last kiss between lovers just prior to parting is usually filled with giddy anxiety, gushes of affectionate emotions and the tinges of sorrow that are only natural when distance draws near. For Sheila, saying farewell to war-bound husband Jimmy was heart-wrenching. Not because of his impending absence, but because of the awful truth she held inside -- she just didn't love him.


A few days after being confronted with Jimmy's death on the battlefield and the funeral that followed, Sheila finds out in a letter that he had been keeping a secret from her as well -- he didn't love her either. However, it turns out there must have been somewhat of an attraction as Sheila was keeping an even BIGGER secret -- she was with child!


Luckily, young Sheila had her parents to help her out with baby Jimmy, but raising the child of a ghostly husband wasn't enough. Sheila takes a job in retail to not only earn money for her family, but to meet a man. And meet a man she did -- Brad Kerns: Department Store Buyer Extraordinaire.


Over time, Sheila and Brad spend more time and more time together. First as coworkers, and then as lovers. Still, Sheila cannot bring herself to tell Brad about little Jimmy. Learning of Brad's intense dislike for children does not help the situation any.


One Sunday while Sheila is at the park with the baby, Brad makes an unannounced visit. Sheila's immaturity is demonstrated when she lies about who Jimmy is. Much to her surprise, Brad seems to be intrigued by the little munchkin.


Sheila struggles with keeping her secret from Brad, but eventually she is found out when baby Jimmy falls ill and she is called home from work.


Naturally, Brad is deeply hurt when he learns the truth. Will this be the end of their relationship?


A few days later after cooling down, Brad finds Sheila and Jimmy in the park and makes her listen to his secret -- he is divorced! Brad's apparent repugnance towards children stems from his own inability to have them. Secrets pervade this story, but in the end, love wins out.


Though stories of single mothers in romance comics of the '60s and '70s aren't plentiful, others do exist. They usually involve a tragedy and a widow -- differing quite a bit from stories of single motherhood today. Though hardly subversive, they do show the range of situations in which love was allowed to blossom in the romance comics of yore.

You've Got a BRAIN CLOUD?

We've talked before here at the Lesser Key about the importance of crit groups, and about accepting criticism with an open mind and in the spirit with which it was given. But what about the times when you just don't agree with your what your reader says?

Sometimes, even with a great crit comes a few comments that throw you for a loop. So how do you know who's "right?" Is anyone right at all? How can you be sure?

Well aside from the obvious advice, "Get a second opinion" ("Brain cloud? You didn't get a second opinion on something called a BRAIN CLOUD?" Ooops. I typed that? Sorry, y'all, but when I think the words "second opinion", my mind goes straight to "Brain Cloud." That's just how I'm wired, I suppose. But I digress.), maybe think about why the reader recommended the change. It could simply be that the way you've written a scene or plot point wasn't quite clear enough for them.

Or it may be that something you wrote earlier led them to expect a different outcome than the one you depicted, leaving them feeling dissatisfied. Barring the possibility that what you wrote was just self-indulgent drivel (all the self-indulgent drivel should have been stripped out at least two revisions ago), you might find that the reason the comment rankles so much is because it means a failure to communicate on your part.

Instead of getting down on yourself—or that gosh-darn-know-it-all critter—which won't help anyone, figure out where you went wrong and fix it.

And if, after all that, you still maintain that your way was the best way, nay, the only way to write the scene, well, maybe you have a Brain Cloud after all.

Only course of action for a Brain Cloud is to get a second opinion. ;)

Oh, and don't forget to enter to win RUINED!

BlogFest 2010

BlogFest is hosted by Cinnamon at A Journey of Books

Now that the meds has kicked in my fever has stayed down for 24 hours Woohoo! Now I can get back to work. Thanks for all the get well wished I really appreciate them all..
I have some new followers and wanted to promote BlogFest. If you own a blog and would like to get more traffic this is a great way to just that. Here is some information. Time is getting close and I have a huge box for one lucky winner.

Get ready to have a blast September 10-12, 2010!

Looking for increased traffic to your blog? Want to get out and meet some fellow bloggers? Come join us for this twice a year event as we celebrate each other!

What is it?
BlogFest is a blog run of sorts. A list of participating blogs will be provided on September 10, each offering a fantastic giveaway for readers to enter. Each blog will link to another, pulling readers through the fantastic party we'll have set up for them!

How do I participate?
Sign up here

Announcement!!! Get Ready For June With Julia Quinn!

So excited to be doing my Series Spotlight here on the blog. As you all know, this month (June 2010), our Author of the Month is none other than Julia Quinn. She's the type of author whose works are on auto-buy for me. EVERY single book by her is gold. But there is one set, specifically, which everyone seems insatiably enamored with. Her Bridgerton Series is one that launched on-to the scene and stole the hearts of all her readers across the globe. It deserves to be recognized in grand fashion!

So, this month will be June With Julia Quinn; a look at one of her most well-known and beloved series.

*Every Friday this month, I will be reviewing a book from the Bridgerton series (in order). Seeing as there are 8 books and only 4 Fridays in the month of June, I will be doubling up on the posts each Friday.

                                    

*Also planning to create a special, commemorative quiz on facebook. 'Which Bridgerton Are You?';and what ever else I can do to make this month (and blog) seriously JQ-crazed!

* Read more about this fabulous series by Julia Quinn on her website

-There is a section on the site that has everything you need, want or should know about the Bridgertons. Just click: here