tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9094994150241108762024-03-13T12:19:24.928-07:00A Pleasant BookFiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-28607341639761688542017-07-12T00:37:00.000-07:002017-07-12T02:18:41.483-07:00Romance with a Capital R : Or Why Genre Romance is a Thing<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Once again, the debate about what constitutes a
Romance rages across social media. Of course, I have an opinion. I have an
opinion about everything. Even things I know nothing about. Like American
politics. After all, I have watched Dave, The American President and Wag the
Dog numerous times. I also saw All the Presidents Men in the cinemas back when
it was first out. I get to have an opinion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway…subject in hand. Romance. Genre Romance in
particular.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgYzoo3ZDaiHZA_3U7ekm6StD13uP4NHyz1tGQBPqGZFWfdNtTCfOfe-RNeieGaxTX9-V_EWi6hbCGbW9ZW0Y33Wk94uuL65cGSnJuwyjn9LSlPoCUme2DWyzvtGzfaXKGBYgwUGZOgU/s1600/GWTW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgYzoo3ZDaiHZA_3U7ekm6StD13uP4NHyz1tGQBPqGZFWfdNtTCfOfe-RNeieGaxTX9-V_EWi6hbCGbW9ZW0Y33Wk94uuL65cGSnJuwyjn9LSlPoCUme2DWyzvtGzfaXKGBYgwUGZOgU/s320/GWTW.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a Romance under present guidelines...but back when it was written...maybe a small r romance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Once upon a time, a long time ago, in a galaxy far,
far away…you get the drift. A romance was any novel that wasn’t true. It was a made-up
story. It was purely coincidental that Jane Austen wrote romance in the form of
what is known these days as what I shall call capital R romance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Early last century, Mills and Boon published romances.
They might have been about a dog in the wilderness and written by a man. But
they were considered romances because some author sat in his garret and “romanced”
about a dog in the wilderness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7gtsuTJc-BDw7dXVOReXh0bBMnbEjLDmVLViB4Y3RS_1wxi1uFmijn9t_B-ZE5bnRKTHr2t0vSYVIyoj4NserA6gS2expefKRyNHnMUA3Q5osSYfkli4pY0RFulMc2HhhPfDbjFIf8Y/s1600/Murder_on_the_Orient_Express_movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7gtsuTJc-BDw7dXVOReXh0bBMnbEjLDmVLViB4Y3RS_1wxi1uFmijn9t_B-ZE5bnRKTHr2t0vSYVIyoj4NserA6gS2expefKRyNHnMUA3Q5osSYfkli4pY0RFulMc2HhhPfDbjFIf8Y/s1600/Murder_on_the_Orient_Express_movie_poster.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Somewhere between the Great War and the Great War Part
II…it’s all about semantics…women became a force in reading. Not that we didn’t
always read, once we were allowed to learn to do it, but women also developed
buying power and they wanted to read romantic stories about love that didn’t
necessarily end up in tragedy. Because any woman daring to “love” in literature
almost invariably came to a bad end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It was also in this era that genre started to really
become a thing. We had the Golden Age Mystery writers like Christie, Allingham,
Sayers, Wentworth, Marsh. A very stylised distinct type of mystery. Not new but
suddenly everywhere and available everywhere. Serialised in magazines, in
libraries for a modest subscription, eventually in paperback (pulp fiction). We
won’t talk about the rather sordid tales of PI’s and loose women who eventually
ended up dead. The thing is, you knew what you were getting. A neat mystery
with a satisfactory solution that the reader might almost guess before the big
reveal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This was also a time of growth for science fiction.
Another genre. Once again, magazines, library books, pulp fiction with lovely
lurid covers, often with semi-clad females. When they weren’t being murdered
over in the mystery genre, they were tangling with aliens and probably coming
to a bad end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2bkQUDbjCcg1ESPlUTe_ANR1GhuDorZzufAcjAbpeZN6RGEe59T7UwtS2oX3WTALJOiX9jM7L8xxJF3M7YraiH-V-xZRFUPWwjDXouz5NpwhaIwkIe8vHnmxNwBrh7x3MJ4_7UNsk_g/s1600/Heyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2bkQUDbjCcg1ESPlUTe_ANR1GhuDorZzufAcjAbpeZN6RGEe59T7UwtS2oX3WTALJOiX9jM7L8xxJF3M7YraiH-V-xZRFUPWwjDXouz5NpwhaIwkIe8vHnmxNwBrh7x3MJ4_7UNsk_g/s1600/Heyer.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">It is interesting that most of the Golden Age Mysteries writers included romance in their mysteries. This was also the Era when Georgette Heyer invented the Regency Romance. She started off writing small r historical romances but in the end, only a handful of her books are not considered true Romances under the modern definition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, it’s obvious there was a badly needed genre for
women who dared to love to get their happy ending. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Romance had a bit of a dodgy
start, but by the fifties we pretty much knew what we expected from them. One
main protagonist we could relate to, a hero suitable for her to redeem and a
background cast of characters to provide colour. Occasionally there was a girl
somewhere who came to a bad end. Usually for daring to love the hero. Still
working on that one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">An interesting sideline. When Harlequin started to
acquire Romances from Mills & Boon for the American market, they had to be
cleaned up a little. No sordid bigamy, children out of wedlock and suchlike
nasty things that those decadent English readers tolerated. The American market
still has some idiosyncrasies. But that’s a story for another day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The real story behind capital R romance is the
marketing machine. Because Romance readers are demanding and voracious. They
consume more books than any other segment of the reading market. They have very
specific demands and the marketing machine know that if they want to capture
all that filthy lucre, they have to give them what they want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What do they want? Happiness. They want to go on a journey
that ends up with a Happy Ever After. Romance readers know that in real life, a
happy ever after is as elusive as the unicorn. That moments of happiness are as
hard to hold onto as dandelion fluff in the wind. If they are going to engage
with the protagonists, go on a journey that is often fraught with tears and
angst, they want the big reward at the end. They want the fairy tale. They want
to believe that love triumphs AND survives. They want it ALL.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When they pay their money, they aren’t buying the
sweat of some authors brow, the pain of RSI from typing until all hours to get
the book done on time. They aren’t even buying the pretty cover, although they
are a nice bonus. They are buying the feels. The feels they get from suffering
along with their protagonists and that magical, almost unbelievable happiness
when somehow, despite everything, it all comes out right at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What am I trying to say here? I’m saying that we want
something with certain ingredients, we label it. You want muesli with oats,
sunflower seeds, sultanas and nuts, you check the label. You get home and eat
the muesli and discover cranberries in it and you hate cranberries, you are
going to be unhappy. You might leave the bowl half full. You might chuck the
packet at the wall in disgust. You did not get what you wanted. What you paid
for.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5c2Q2ldKBnbQSfRiyjUJxeSbdwYVgqqp3mqf8cNQnnyAFpec_hh_i3Z4GyVS9O2KcLFktiOVnkmOP57Pqv3njec-Fd0ha-r5dLp04vVT6ypCATBPa6ehld3_yjbwNWDUe0TdoBfpUp0/s1600/Nurse-Holland-Betty-Neels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="126" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5c2Q2ldKBnbQSfRiyjUJxeSbdwYVgqqp3mqf8cNQnnyAFpec_hh_i3Z4GyVS9O2KcLFktiOVnkmOP57Pqv3njec-Fd0ha-r5dLp04vVT6ypCATBPa6ehld3_yjbwNWDUe0TdoBfpUp0/s320/Nurse-Holland-Betty-Neels.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">From the Romance Wiki: “Novels of this
type of</span> <b>genre</b> fiction place their primary focus on the relationship
and <b>romantic</b> love between two people, and must have an
"emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Much has been made of the phrase “emotionally
satisfying and optimistic ending” by those who say that it doesn’t matter if
one of the romantic couple dies so long as the other partner is optimistic
about the future and emotionally satisfied even if grieving their heart out for
the loved one. IT IS NOT ABOUT THEM. It is about the reader. </span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Do you really find
it emotionally satisfying when you are left grieving the might have beens? When
one partner of a romantic couple you have emotionally engaged with is left
ALONE. That is not romantic. The love affair might have been romantic. The end
of it is not. That is tragic. We might find it absolutely wonderful writing,
deeply moving, a literary tour de force. It is not a Romance. We expect both, preferably
all, the lovers to survive. Because it is a journey and the destination is
supposed to be HEA/HFN for all the main protagonists. Like the marines, we don’t
leave anyone behind.</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">When you are dealing with a product purchased by
millions of people who have a specific recipe they want to buy, you label it
correctly. Romance is now a label. Romance with a capital R, aka genre romance,
is shorthand for saying, when you buy this book it will have the essential
ingredients you want. There will be love. There will be people we hope you
relate to. Most of all, those people we hope you like will end up happy (and
mostly alive, bearing in mind paranormal romance) at the end, no matter what
happens to them on the journey. We promise you this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ohMx72tyOGSi4s_QfnqtHlAsblRES56C-uLyvI6mHesHNzSkqMVSD4c2ApXDFzjNvQF4B6A-Ri8iYsIp7J-KO3apUScx2tkYLe-zf8BjtjfxmISyK0g7TrahXmN6ZoG7j2OaAwiXPYM/s1600/recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ohMx72tyOGSi4s_QfnqtHlAsblRES56C-uLyvI6mHesHNzSkqMVSD4c2ApXDFzjNvQF4B6A-Ri8iYsIp7J-KO3apUScx2tkYLe-zf8BjtjfxmISyK0g7TrahXmN6ZoG7j2OaAwiXPYM/s1600/recipe.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's a promise. A happy ever after promise. Do NOT
break that promise. People will not forgive you. You don’t have to make that
promise to make people read your book. If your book does not have a HEA you don’t
have to pretend it does. If it’s a good book, people will read it. They will
tell other people to read it. If you lie about your book people will be sad and
upset. They will feel betrayed. They will tell other people not to buy your
book. Even if it is a good book. Because you promised something you didn’t
deliver. You stole their money under false pretences and expected them to
swallow the cranberries just because you thought it made the muesli better. Tastier.
More meaningful. *cough* Literary.</span>Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-41889226322636727152015-10-11T21:06:00.000-07:002015-10-13T05:03:33.639-07:00It's that #SYTYCW15 time of year again. Top Picks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/43611745-the-spy-who-saved-me-sytycw15-carinapress" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QaVh4NHvVVLWLmGQschzx6lz3R6Y2YHf2r8sutXH8XT1lSHIza1VAfTQtygyCpR4CNwgodB9kQ78w6ftRYcClTpDUX4KGWqs6u-sw9gD2X37-i-C_bUjxl_kP2cXXfZnSjlMmE2nICY/s320/12092626_10208199705775339_1149088856_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every year I try and second guess which of the entries will make it all the way to the top. This year, because of the Wattpad experience, I decided to use only the #Top55. I simply didn't have the time to go trawling through the zillions of entries that latched onto the contest.<br />
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Unlike last year, I'm one of the semi-finalists so I could be considered to have a vested interest. But being strong minded, I do not include my fabulous entry in the Top Picks. You can take that as read.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpCxgrIgxVrHlFbwWwjJEjTlYZ7UHDHdQBVkfQT0G7P93_ji5zM7bkLGe1kktZWuQTnV9LRk6FImUUDIcgoTvdnN6I5PSwwg__HzzVL_NkNvaCbhdoFaYmELVjtIRxjFvVNl2m3E6yFg/s1600/chapter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpCxgrIgxVrHlFbwWwjJEjTlYZ7UHDHdQBVkfQT0G7P93_ji5zM7bkLGe1kktZWuQTnV9LRk6FImUUDIcgoTvdnN6I5PSwwg__HzzVL_NkNvaCbhdoFaYmELVjtIRxjFvVNl2m3E6yFg/s1600/chapter.jpg" /></a>I read every first chapter of the #Top55 semi-finalists and did venture further on some stories. I mention this in the summary attached to each title if applicable.<br />
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My criteria is very simple. I think the book deserves to be in print and I want to read it. I've also kept in mind whether the book meets the criteria of the imprint.<br />
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The choices may not be the ones you would make but that is the beauty and the peril of the publishing industry. There are books for every taste and every taste may vary. Most of them I have only read the first chapter so I have no idea if they live up to the promise.<br />
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The overall quality of the chapters is very high as you would expect, being hand picked by the Harlequin Editors.<br />
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<h3>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGaxYiH6FQSAmTRj24apTQi_GqOYFVY_WZcBhZCvZBPPFQUpbhIcu1GXeRLsTP_en1KMOsAdLbzAnXLDJ7RpyqrjeNo_EJW0Ce59N0Tm8dnLj1qglt0aaOtyWdqB0oWzCrMg8MjrnvXg/s1600/believe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGaxYiH6FQSAmTRj24apTQi_GqOYFVY_WZcBhZCvZBPPFQUpbhIcu1GXeRLsTP_en1KMOsAdLbzAnXLDJ7RpyqrjeNo_EJW0Ce59N0Tm8dnLj1qglt0aaOtyWdqB0oWzCrMg8MjrnvXg/s1600/believe.jpg" /></a>These are my Top Ten Picks in Alphabetical Order</h3>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/162540679-a-soldier%27s-princess-sytycw15-romantic-suspense" target="_blank">A Soldier’s Princess</a> – Romantic Suspense<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a crazy mix of princess and bodyguard and potential
destruction of the universe as we know it. Or at least a portion of it. This is
a reunion romance and we get a good look at Alana and Gage and their past in
this chapter. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/146600086-catch-the-fallen-star-sytycw15-superromance-pitch" target="_blank">Catch the Fallen Star</a> - Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jonah is a recovering addict, placed in a small town under a
false name so his mega stardom doesn’t bring down the paparazzi. Andi has moved
into the house next door with her daughter after an ugly marriage breakdown. I’ve
read the full story so I know how it turns out. The hero and heroine are well
drawn.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYDxouNPHp68MF3h94cBvXQ531eYX7rAV-YlGdxIXTtDsyC8zNnE9HBrgOv8P4kY-0DCwEuLondG7fOGsUpnjEDs6qBmTeaMdkPvmkTDaO9Gb5w8B-Ap2nxT_x7V7mZgxFXhhkIAaAGY/s1600/subplots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYDxouNPHp68MF3h94cBvXQ531eYX7rAV-YlGdxIXTtDsyC8zNnE9HBrgOv8P4kY-0DCwEuLondG7fOGsUpnjEDs6qBmTeaMdkPvmkTDaO9Gb5w8B-Ap2nxT_x7V7mZgxFXhhkIAaAGY/s200/subplots.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/160362156-finding-home-sytycw15-specialedition-finding-home" target="_blank">Finding Home</a> – Special Edition<o:p></o:p></div>
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Andie has had the responsibility of her family ever since
the tragic death of her parents when her youngest brother was still at school.
Her specialist Christmas shop is vital for the family finances because her
other brother is still building up his veterinary practice. Connor has history
with Andie back when she was a high school senior so his return to sell her
building out from under her is adding insult to injury. This is another story I’ve
read right to the end. At times it felt like almost too much was happening but
it fits the SE line well.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/111576755-love-like-a-man-sytycw15-blaze-love-like-a-man" target="_blank">Love Like a Man</a> – Blaze</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This has a strong chick lit feel at the beginning with the Heroine
Claire and her two BFFs. Claire is a
career woman but thought she had found her ideal man until he didn’t want to
settle down (and promptly married a school teacher). I couldn’t help think of
When Harry Met Sally. Now she’s going to forget settling and just date for fun.
Gabe is a building contractor doing renovations in her office building and they
meet. All his mates are married and settling down so he’s looking to settle.
This could be fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/151905970-love-on-the-nile-sytycw15-carinapress-part-1-100" target="_blank">Love on the Nile</a> – Carina Press<o:p></o:p></div>
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My first thought was of course the Agatha Christie mystery “Death
on the Nile” but once I read the blurb it was more like a taste of vintage
romance. Good times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Natasha with her youngish brother Nicky are joining their
Aunt Lucy for a holiday in Egypt. She is disconcerted when they arrive to find
their Aunt has organised a cruise down the Nile with an enigmatic archaeologist
named Kyle. What’s not to like?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165005206-one-taste-of-you-sytycw15-romanticsuspense-pitch" target="_blank">One Taste of You</a> – Romantic Suspense<o:p></o:p></div>
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Zoe is our heroine in this chapter. She’s reeling from a put
down from her ex that she is sexless and unappealing. You see where we are
going here. Her best friends dress her up and send her out on the town to slay
all the men. Which works fine, until she spots Zeke. Zeke is an undercover cop
and he’s out to trap prostitutes tonight. He’s normally homicide but he’s on
loan to vice. You see where we are going here. The next meeting is going to be
a doozy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/173751449-out-of-focus-sytycw15-top-55-semi-finalist" target="_blank">Out of Focus</a> – Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is listed as a superromance but it also has a little
suspense in it. Eva is in a witness protection program with her children. She’s
made a new life as a creative photographer with a small gallery. Her life
becomes complicated when her assistant wants to promote the gallery through
social media and the assistant's Journalist brother comes to the island.
Marshall needs a good story to get a promotion and Eva could be it. I’ve read
this right to the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/154628977-smoldering-the-flames-sytycw15-kimaniromance-pitch" target="_blank">Smouldering the Flames</a> – Kimani<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reunion romance. Bing. Music teacher Angela is desperate to fulfil
her promise to take the school’s Jazz Ensemble to an event in Madrid. The
school is against it, seeing anything not sport connected or academic as a
waste of money. Her one chance is Daniel, her first love who is now a wealthy
celebrity chef and who donates to the school regularly. Only trouble is, she
ran away without confronting him when she saw him lip-locked with his ex-girlfriend
fifteen years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/167103433-tethered-by-twins-part-one" target="_blank">Tethered by Twins</a> – Presents<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ah…Presents. Secret babies...blackmail…marriage of
convenience. All the good stuff. Of course we don’t get that in the first
chapter…that came in the pitch. Rose has come onto Drew’s yacht to tell him a
secret but he is in a drunken stupor. Not a man she wants anything to do with
even if he is mourning the recent death of his wife. The one he said he was
engaged to when he was dumping Rose four years ago. Oh the angst.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/168347744-when-the-brazilian-returns-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">When the Brazilian Returns</a> – Presents<o:p></o:p></div>
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Reunion romance. This is my catnip. Ava and Davi have
history. Three years ago he dumped her but now she needs help and he’s the only
man apart from her estranged father she can turn to. In return, he takes over
her life and passport. This is looking like an angsty read.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h3>
Yes, I couldn't resist putting a few more in. Hey if the SYTYCW15 Top 50 can jump to 55 who am I to stick to numbers?</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT2OGtT3S94SGKeX9X4D-7hO_VYplF1_dRSvW8UZLTYfkbkP1dkNhgE1NawnxtUJgOoDeRoxholekJkN-X4Hsk9-jLtL7HdqQLBRIWYOU59FXRTwCbpRf-YgdktuYkdokXkcCbbnFz6g/s1600/contender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZT2OGtT3S94SGKeX9X4D-7hO_VYplF1_dRSvW8UZLTYfkbkP1dkNhgE1NawnxtUJgOoDeRoxholekJkN-X4Hsk9-jLtL7HdqQLBRIWYOU59FXRTwCbpRf-YgdktuYkdokXkcCbbnFz6g/s1600/contender.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165695324-part-1-as-long-as-we-both-shall-live-pitch" target="_blank">As Long as We Both Shall Live</a> - Heartwarming<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a reunion story. Tawny, the heroine, left Alex the
hero, taking their daughter. We don’t know what triggered her leaving but we
learn something of her troubled background which could be significant. Alex
makes an appearance and we get a little view of where he is at. Tawny is very sick and that forces a confrontation she's been avoiding.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165484679-chasing-mr-crown-sytycw15-superromance-story-pitch" target="_blank">Chasing Mr Crown</a> – Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
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Unusually, this story has multiple viewpoints, not just the
Hero and Heroine. This is the story of Natalie and Dash who meet just as
Natalie is leaving for a new job across the Atlantic. They make a connection,
but Natalie doesn’t quite trust it and at the end of the chapter we aren’t
quite sure what will happen. This is another story I’ve read right through. It
was a bit nerve wracking at times once Natalie’s sister enters the scene.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV8CuMz2giyCYuto4iKB8YPEYbrBRvfGTlp6L8OOtyqsfsTRr8L28egOVvSvJc1_tjffcr-jtmABEciJnBJzOB5ESehtOJKhbVO2bIuN_vAIdsr07DoRvLJ8kbCrgxiApLwwl1Xz0530/s1600/lol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV8CuMz2giyCYuto4iKB8YPEYbrBRvfGTlp6L8OOtyqsfsTRr8L28egOVvSvJc1_tjffcr-jtmABEciJnBJzOB5ESehtOJKhbVO2bIuN_vAIdsr07DoRvLJ8kbCrgxiApLwwl1Xz0530/s200/lol.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/147404105-dating-the-undead-wattys2015-part-1-sytycw15-pitch" target="_blank">Dating the Undead</a> – Nocturne<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is actually a cute and flirty chapter for a nocturne. It’s
told in first person which kind of suits the chick lit feel. The heroine is
Silver and she meets a cute and intriguing guy when she gets thrown out of a
party. He has unusual speed and seems able to read her mind. Only his eyes are
sparkly…sort of. This world view includes Vampires as a regular part of
society.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/77028106-it%27s-only-temporary-contest-entry-please-support" target="_blank">It’s Only Temporary</a> – Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
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Classic Boss and Secretary trope. Penny is an appealing
heroine, temping while she has med school on hold. There is a reason for it but
we don’t find out in this chapter. Hero David is the usual, too good looking
womanizer. All the same he comes across well. Banter is clever and the rapport
is believable. Chapter ends on a nice juicy hook.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165962412-mr-wrong-sytycw15-part-one" target="_blank">Mr Wrong</a> – Kimani<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was a little confused at first with this story. I made the
mistake of reading the comments and this author apparently writes Justin Bieber
fan fiction. However, the hero is NOT Justin Bieber though there is a secondary
character that could be modelled on him. The heroine, Madison, is an image
consultant, and she’s just been handed the job of white washing the Rap scene’s
biggest bad boy ready to take over his estranged father’s entertainment company.
Madison is an interesting character with a strong back story. We haven’t met
the hero in person yet, but he looks like one hell of a challenge.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/146595995-the-shape-of-us-top-55-harlequin-part-1-the-shape" target="_blank">The Shape of Us</a> – Nocturne<o:p></o:p></div>
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First person POV. Jessica is a shifter mage in a small
community. She’s alienated from the pack but when the female Alpha’s son comes
into hospital with something odd preventing his natural shifter healing
abilities, she’s drawn back into the circle. We get to meet Ian, an ex who
still has a powerful effect on the heroine. And from the description, maybe on
any woman in a five mile radius.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/151353656-the-sheikh%27s-forbidden-jewel-part-1-pitch" target="_blank">The Sheikh’s Forbidden Jewel</a> – Presents<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another classic presents with revenge, a stolen jewel, and
sizzling attraction. Lady Georgina remembers Idriss well. He was her playmate
20 years ago before he and his mother were sent away from her uncle’s castle.
Now she needs to find a jewel left to her by her uncle and supposedly in the
hands of the Sheikh, Idriss. In her role as party planner, she has the
opportunity to go to the castle and search for the jewel. And not fall for
Idriss. Hehe.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think Ryan really says everything about what I want to wish for ALL the contestants, not just the ones featured here.</div>
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And of course that includes my own entry. Known as #spymistress on Social Media this is the story of Trauma surgeon Gabe and Anna, a Russian spy.</div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/143792627-the-spy-who-saved-me-sytycw15-carinapress-part-1" target="_blank">To go and visit click here</a></div>
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To see my stunning book trailer with an earworm that will make you wish for Anna to put you out of your misery <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0I2k5JaZo" target="_blank">Click here</a><br />
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And to double your suffering I have made a second trailer. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMs5PdZFjqU" target="_blank">Click Here</a>.</div>
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Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-42049007078083827882015-10-11T10:03:00.000-07:002015-10-11T10:03:21.548-07:00It's that #SYTYCW15 time of year again - part 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QaVh4NHvVVLWLmGQschzx6lz3R6Y2YHf2r8sutXH8XT1lSHIza1VAfTQtygyCpR4CNwgodB9kQ78w6ftRYcClTpDUX4KGWqs6u-sw9gD2X37-i-C_bUjxl_kP2cXXfZnSjlMmE2nICY/s1600/12092626_10208199705775339_1149088856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-QaVh4NHvVVLWLmGQschzx6lz3R6Y2YHf2r8sutXH8XT1lSHIza1VAfTQtygyCpR4CNwgodB9kQ78w6ftRYcClTpDUX4KGWqs6u-sw9gD2X37-i-C_bUjxl_kP2cXXfZnSjlMmE2nICY/s320/12092626_10208199705775339_1149088856_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Here are the summaries of the rest of the first chapters for the #Top55<br />
<br />
In the next day or so I'll put together a list of my favourite top picks. I have to say it's likely to be difficult.<br />
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/145866778-if-at-first-part-1-pitch" target="_blank">If at First</a> – Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
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A first person POV romance. This one stars Henry Cavill as
the hero. At least that’s the image that popped into my head from the
description. It’s certainly not gonna hurt. That was pretty much all we got of
the hero. I’m making an assumption here. Any guy who gives the heroine a black
eye in the first chapter is bound to be significant. Tabitha, the heroine, is
just home to small town land from college to help out her dad and take stock of
her finances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/77028106-it%27s-only-temporary-contest-entry-please-support" target="_blank">It’s Only Temporary</a> – Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
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Classic Boss and Secretary trope. Penny is an appealing
heroine, temping while she has med school on hold. There is a reason for it but
we don’t find out in this chapter. Hero David is the usual, too good looking
womanizer. All the same he comes across well. Banter is clever and the rapport
is believable. Chapter ends on a nice juicy hook.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/151441621-letting-go-top-55-sytycw15-part-one-the-100-word" target="_blank">Letting Go</a> – Carina Press<o:p></o:p></div>
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LGBQT – First Person POV New Adult.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was hard to tell from just the first chapter but I think
this may be a best friends to lovers trope. Jace, the hero, is still grieving
after the death of his first love nearly two years ago. His friend Ben suggests
an internet dating site. It’s clear that Ben is suffering from unrequited love
but Jace assumes it’s the douchebag ex. This is part of an ongoing series on
Wattpad and mention is made of character appearing in previous stories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/111576755-love-like-a-man-sytycw15-blaze-love-like-a-man" target="_blank">Love Like a Man</a> – Blaze<o:p></o:p></div>
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This has a strong chick lit feel at the beginning with the
Heroine Claire and her two BFFs. Claire
is a career woman but thought she had found her ideal man until he didn’t want
to settle down (and promptly married a school teacher). I couldn’t help think
of When Harry Met Sally. Now she’s going to forget settling and just date for
fun. Gabe is a building contractor doing renovations in her office building and
they meet. All his mates are married and settling down so he’s looking to
settle. This could be fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/151905970-love-on-the-nile-sytycw15-carinapress-part-1-100" target="_blank">Love on the Nile</a> – Carina Press<o:p></o:p></div>
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My first thought was of course the Agatha Christie mystery
“Death on the Nile” but once I read the blurb it was more like a taste of
vintage romance. Good times.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Natasha with her youngish brother Nicky are joining their
Aunt Lucy for a holiday in Egypt. She is disconcerted when they arrive to find
their Aunt has organised a cruise down the Nile with an enigmatic archaeologist
named Kyle. What’s not to like?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165962412-mr-wrong-sytycw15-part-one" target="_blank">Mr Wrong</a> – Kimani<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was a little confused at first with this story. I made the
mistake of reading the comments and this author apparently writes Justin Bieber
fan fiction. However, the hero is NOT Justin Bieber though there is a secondary
character that could be modelled on him. The heroine, Madison, is an image
consultant, and she’s just been handed the job of white washing the Rap scene’s
biggest bad boy ready to take over his estranged father’s entertainment
company. Madison is an interesting character with a strong back story. We haven’t
met the hero in person yet, but he looks like one hell of a challenge.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165005206-one-taste-of-you-sytycw15-romanticsuspense-pitch" target="_blank">One Taste of You</a> – Romantic Suspense<o:p></o:p></div>
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Zoe is our heroine in this chapter. She’s reeling from a put
down from her ex that she is sexless and unappealing. You see where we are
going here. Her best friends dress her up and send her out on the town to slay
all the men. Which works fine, until she spots Zeke. Zeke is an undercover cop
and he’s out to trap prostitutes tonight. He’s normally homicide but he’s on
loan to vice. You see where we are going here. The next meeting is going to be
a doozy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/173751449-out-of-focus-sytycw15-top-55-semi-finalist" target="_blank">Out of Focus</a> – Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is listed as a superromance but it also has a little
suspense in it. Eva is in a witness protection program with her children. She’s
made a new life as a creative photographer with a small gallery. Her life
becomes complicated when her assistant wants to promote the gallery through
social media and the assistants Journalist brother comes to the island.
Marshall needs a good story to get a promotion and Eva could be it. I’ve read
this right to the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/173723478-princely-sytycw15-romance-sytycw-2015-100-word" target="_blank">Princely</a> – Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
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First person POV. New Adult. Eleanor is a princess, brought
up to duty and all that entails. She is about to embark on her college years
somewhere in Northern Island. I think. She has to deal with the interest of the
paparazzi though a deal was struck (similar to that of the English royals) to
leave her alone once the initial flurry is over. The other students have to be
dealt with and she is helped unexpectedly by a young man, by name Sawyer. Our
hero.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/145832041-protecting-the-cowboy%27s-baby~-courtland-ranch" target="_blank">Protecting the Cowboys Baby</a> – Special Edition<o:p></o:p></div>
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This an angsty read from the first word. Alana left Hayden
twelve months ago believing he betrayed her, divorcing him. Now she’s back with
a film crew to do a movie about the old west. The history between these two is
painful and it seems Alana might be hiding another painful secret from Hayden.
The close interest of her film director is likely to continue misunderstandings
between them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/91164250-rebound-sytycw15-blaze-top-55-semi-finalist" target="_blank">Rebound </a>– Blaze<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Maxine is six months in from a breakup with a cheating ex
when her sister drags her out to a club for some R&R. Preferably of the
smexy kind. It turns into a disaster when she runs into a brick wall with a
charming French accent and a nice technique in kissing. Her vintage Dior dress,
and her evening are ruined. Maybe the evening can be salvaged.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/168849402-sleeping-with-ghosts-sytycw15-blaze-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">Sleeping with Ghosts </a>– Blaze<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
So…it wasn’t a nocturne that took a wrong turning. Claudia
is a ghost writer and is starting employment with a growing company run by
Daniel to help them start a blog. The company is all natury and environmentally
sound. There is an instant attraction between them but Daniel shuts it down so
for a Blaze, it starts off pretty tame. The characters are interesting though
and I skipped into chapter two to get a little more of a feel for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/154628977-smoldering-the-flames-sytycw15-kimaniromance-pitch" target="_blank">Smouldering the Flames</a> – Kimani<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Reunion romance. Bing. Music teacher Angela is desperate to
fulfil her promise to take the school’s Jazz Ensemble to an event in Madrid.
The school is against it, seeing anything not sport connected or academic as a
waste of money. Her one chance is Daniel, her first love who is now a wealthy
celebrity chef and who donates to the school regularly. Only trouble is, she
ran away without confronting him when she saw him lip-locked with his
ex-girlfriend fifteen years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/156989830-stealing-the-duchess-harlequin-contest-part-1" target="_blank">Stealing the Duchess </a>- Historical<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Alexandria is a shy wallflower who spends her time writing
mystery novels. She lives with her sister and her sister’s new husband who has
just inherited a dukedom through the sudden and mysterious deaths of three
heirs over a short period. Her brother in law is a strange and secretive man
and is determined to marry Alexandria off to “get her off his hands”. Little
does our heroine know that she is about to be plunged into an adventure with a
mystery man going by the name of Grey who resembles the heroes of her fantasy
world all to closely.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/173800336-summer-fling-pitch" target="_blank">Summer Fling</a> – Carina Press<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This looks like a sweet New Adult college romance. Lance is
filling in time after graduating before heading home to work and Abby is still
at college. The meet cute is cute and both characters are appealing. I like
that Lance is a typical guy but also a gentleman. Abby is less defined.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/167103433-tethered-by-twins-part-one" target="_blank">Tethered by Twins</a> – Presents<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Ah…Presents. Secret babies...blackmail…marriage of
convenience. All the good stuff. Of course we don’t get that in the first
chapter…that came in the pitch. Rose has come onto Drew’s yacht to tell him a
secret but he is in a drunken stupor. Not a man she wants anything to do with
even if he is mourning the recent death of his wife. The one he said he was
engaged to when he was dumping Rose four years ago. Oh the angst.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/162476417-that-sweet-deal-justwriteit-sytycw15-blaze-part-i" target="_blank">That Sweet Deal</a> – Blaze<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
We don’t get to see the hero in chapter one. The heroine is
busy realising her boyfriend is pretty useless in just about every department.
This is demonstrated by her total involvement in planning chicken salad while
he enjoys himself. The advantage of this is the revelation that she isn’t there
for any of the right reasons. Hopefully we meet the hero in the next chapter
once she takes up residence far away from the ex.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/160155994-the-assassin%27s-shadow-pitch-part-one" target="_blank">The Assassin’s Shadow</a> – Intrigue but maybe not<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This looks like a Nocturne at first. Then I realised the
heroine, Elaine, is high school age. She discovered at a young age that her
body regenerates after injury, from a paper cut to a head wound from a fall. It’s
a fairly slow start with a lot of information. The most interesting thing apart
from her unusual powers is that she appears to be stalked by three college aged
people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/168660177-the-cop%27s-doc-part-1-pitch" target="_blank">The Cop’s Doc</a> – Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
The heroine, Jocelyne is a doctor on the run. We don’t know
why but when she’s pulled up for speeding she expects to be arrested. When
another car does a hit and run on the cop’s partner and the police cruiser, she
uses her medical expertise to save his life and then flees the scene. The hero,
Seth, is left wondering but determined to find her as she is a witness.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/147533011-the-emperor%27s-arrow-pitch" target="_blank">The Emperor’s Arrow</a> – Carina Press<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Evony is a warrior woman from an island province. Along with
women from the other provinces rules by Emperor Galen, she has been summoned to
the palace for a fantasy version of The Bachelor. There is some world building
that slows the early part of the chapter but it picks up by the end.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/146595995-the-shape-of-us-top-55-harlequin-part-1-the-shape" target="_blank">The Shape of Us</a> – Nocturne<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
First person POV. Jessica is a shifter mage in a small
community. She’s alienated from the pack but when the female Alpha’s son comes
into hospital with something odd preventing his natural shifter healing
abilities, she’s drawn back into the circle. We get to meet Ian, an ex who
still has a powerful effect on the heroine. And from the description, maybe on
any woman in a five mile radius.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/151353656-the-sheikh%27s-forbidden-jewel-part-1-pitch" target="_blank">The Sheikh’s Forbidden Jewel </a>– Presents<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Another classic presents with revenge, a stolen jewel, and
sizzling attraction. Lady Georgina remembers Idriss well. He was her playmate
20 years ago before he and his mother were sent away from her uncle’s castle.
Now she needs to find a jewel left to her by her uncle and supposedly in the
hands of the Sheikh, Idriss. In her role as party planner, she has the
opportunity to go to the castle and search for the jewel. And not fall for
Idriss. Hehe.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/160981171-the-soldier%27s-return-the-pitch" target="_blank">The Soldier’s Return</a> – Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This story is still a little rough but it has a lot going
for it. After one night together nearly ten years ago, Maggie gave birth to
Matt’s son. Now he’s back home from the war, trying to put together his life
after injury and PTSD messed it up. Running in Maggie and her son was
unexpected and the boys resemblance to himself obvious.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/164433540-the-sons-of-gregor-macleod-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">The Sons of Gregor Macleod </a>– Historical<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This is full of bonnie Highlanders and a canny heroine. Yes
it is full of brogue but quite legible. The prologue tells how five boys from
different families were fostered by the clan leader to keep the peace. Now
grown, Darach is the hero of this story but the others are present also. They
start by stealing things from the Fraser’s, a deadly enemy and this includes
one young woman. Caitlin. Our heroine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/167541071-throw-your-heart-over-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">Throw Your Heart Over</a> – Heartwarming<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
The heroine Chris has had a tough few years and needs a part
time job while she recovers. The job working as an accountant for a well-known
show jumping champion is ideal. It’s a slow start at first but once Handsome
Hanson, the hero, appears on the stage, things warm up.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/151302733-tidal-patterns-sytycw15-heartwarming-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">Tidal Patterns</a> – Heartwarming<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Mark and Lizzie, standing by the sea, K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Except they are about to go head to head over
a job that Lizzie desperately needs and he isn’t really sure he wants. Lizzie
is a people person and we see this in her first interactions with a Seniors Tap
dancing group. Mark is an Accountant. Nice setup for conflict.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="FR"><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/161892410-tuscany-sytycw15-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">Tuscany</a> – Romance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuscany. The name breaths romance. A pity that the hot
Italian hero is so suspicious…or delicious. Lana has inherited a farm from her
Italian grandmother and has a year to find out if this is what she wants in
life. Romeo, the hero, is the manager of the farm and lives there with his
grandparents. There is a secret journal given Lana by her grandmother to help
explain everything and apparently there will be some mystery later in the book.
I had a few problems with head hopping in this chapter but the story kept me interested.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/149263286-watermelon-wishes-part-one-100-word-pitch" target="_blank">Watermelon Wishes</a> – Heartwarming<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Evey is starting a new life at Watermelon Cove, buying an
old house to turn into a Bed and Breakfast. Only trouble is that the nephew of
the deceased owner is determined to keep it in the family. The story starts a
little slow with the heroine leaving her old life and the classic driving to
the destination and thinking over things. The introduction of the hero steps
things up nicely by the end of the chapter with the promise of some good
conflict.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/168347744-when-the-brazilian-returns-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">When the Brazilian Returns</a> – Presents<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
Reunion romance. This is my catnip. Ava and Davi have
history. Three years ago he dumped her but now she needs help and he’s the only
man apart from her estranged father she can turn to. In return, he takes over
her life and passport. This is looking like an angsty read.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/168864436-working-the-boss-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">Working the Boss</a> – Romance<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blake is the new boss of the hotel were Callie and her
brother work. The rumour mill says he will be cutting staff and Callie’s
position is at risk. Unfortunately Cali met Blake in the lift during a blackout
before she knew who he was. That initial attraction was totally not allowable
under the circumstances.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And because this is my blog I get to promote my own entry out of order. Known as #spymistress on Social Media this is the story of Trauma surgeon Gabe and Anna, a Russian spy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/143792627-the-spy-who-saved-me-sytycw15-carinapress-part-1" target="_blank">To go and visit click here</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To see my stunning book trailer with an earworm that will make you wish for Anna to put you out of your misery <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0I2k5JaZo" target="_blank">Click here</a><br />
<br />
And to double your suffering I have made a second trailer. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMs5PdZFjqU" target="_blank">Click Here</a>.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnD-UB2T33TErZc5akdR9adlhrj3AdMoxsWQS9hPmTjSnzuT-alE9uauAaRwVMZ2fuJOo5PbgOTPZMiLcFY33cWs88cUV5YhDA430zzYeKmnSJ51WXBOXF2kOPk9vHUL73TLMWp0wA1E/s320/spymistresscover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="231" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-49569855462629292502015-10-10T08:00:00.002-07:002015-10-10T08:33:59.239-07:00It's that SYTYCW15 time of year again. Part 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7n83WcQF6FCE1IBpaONLl2WI3d0kxJcOZHB4OoJuAWQ4fi-FNhUeMwd7Rupks9rf5ckOJvZdnFm1-ABxEBtulcmrxy5vQk2yYb8K1uBruK4B6C0xz4SUyNK45WEpUk6_b3rScsU2V1I/s1600/12092626_10208199705775339_1149088856_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7n83WcQF6FCE1IBpaONLl2WI3d0kxJcOZHB4OoJuAWQ4fi-FNhUeMwd7Rupks9rf5ckOJvZdnFm1-ABxEBtulcmrxy5vQk2yYb8K1uBruK4B6C0xz4SUyNK45WEpUk6_b3rScsU2V1I/s320/12092626_10208199705775339_1149088856_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've read a further 16 chapters so I present them to you here. Some of the imprints like Nocturne and the Suspense lines I don't usually read so if I'm not enthused that is no reflection on the actual story.<br />
<br />
Once again the names should link to the story.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/147327660-bleeding-hearts-pitch-entered-into-the-justwriteit" target="_blank">Bleeding Hearts</a> - Suspense</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a first person thriller. The heroine Camryn is
attacked by someone who turns out to be a serial killer. Her apartment
neighbour Isaac is a police officer and the hero. There is a lot of action in
the first chapter. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of first person
though I know it’s very popular at the moment. This didn’t quite work for me
but if you like first person and are big on thrillers I think you might find it
gripping. The heroine is pro-active and the hero at first glance looks yummy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/155181578-by-grace-sytycw15-chapter-1" target="_blank">By Grace</a> – Heartwarming</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This starts out looking like a fairly classic romance. Grace
has been estranged from her brother-in-law Duval since the death of her sister
five years ago. It’s complicated by the fact that Grace was in love with him
before he met and married her sister. Now he is marrying again and Grace is
invited. There is a lot of angsty history here. Not clear at this point how it’s
going to pan out. The blurb mentions Duval’s brother Adrian who will play an
important role but we don’t meet him in this chapter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/152338722-callie-an-enchantress-novel-watty12-finalist" target="_blank">Callie:An Enchantress Novel</a> – Nocturne</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a pretty dark beginning. The heroine Callie and her
sister Adie have a traumatic past. There is a hint in the prologue that it
might be about to catch up to them again. The heroine is 20 so around the New
Adult age group. This one could work for
you if you like vampires and dark backstories.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/146600086-catch-the-fallen-star-sytycw15-superromance-pitch" target="_blank">Catch the Fallen Star</a> - Superromance</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jonah is a recovering addict, placed in a small town under a
false name so his mega stardom doesn’t bring down the paparazzi. Andi has moved
into the house next door with her daughter after an ugly marriage breakdown. I’ve
read the full story so I know how it turns out. The hero and heroine are well
drawn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165484679-chasing-mr-crown-sytycw15-superromance-story-pitch" target="_blank">Chasing Mr Crown </a>– Superromance</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Unusually, this story has multiple viewpoints, not just the
Hero and Heroine. This is the story of Natalie and Dash who meet just as
Natalie is leaving for a new job across the Atlantic. They make a connection,
but Natalie doesn’t quite trust it and at the end of the chapter we aren’t
quite sure what will happen. This is another story I’ve read right through. It
was a bit nerve wracking at times once Natalie’s sister enters the scene.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/161956276-chekowski%27s-redemption-presents-pitch" target="_blank">Chekowski’s Redemption</a> – Presents</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is interesting. Heroine Jocelyn has a little package
from a one night stand with a sweet Russian immigrant named Chekowski. Only
when she bumps into him at her Uncle’s house it turns out he is a very Canadian
Matthew Brody. Not a good start. This
didn’t have a strong Presents feel but the premise is promising.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/167898413-crazy-enough-sytycw15-carinapress-crazy-enough" target="_blank">Crazy Enough</a> – Carina Press</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a suspense style story with a crazy journalist and a
military hero. Corkie (a nickname that made me raise my brows but it could be
an Aussi thing. In other countries it’s probably quite common). Anyway, she’s
on the track of a mysterious bad guy who is supposed to be dead and ends up
witnessing a major bust up between rival cartels. Alex turns up and things don’t
go too well at their first meeting. Especially for Alex. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/147404105-dating-the-undead-wattys2015-part-1-sytycw15-pitch" target="_blank">Dating the Undead</a> – Nocturne</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This actually a cute and flirty chapter for a nocturne. It’s
told in first person which kind of suits the chick lit feel. The heroine is
Silver and she meets a cute and intriguing guy when she gets thrown out of a
party. He has unusual speed and seems able to read her mind. Only his eyes are
sparkly…sort of. This world view includes Vampires as a regular part of
society.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/146591617-drawn-to-darkness-sytycw15-intrigue-drawn-to" target="_blank">Drawn to Darkness </a>– Intrigue</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Criminal investigator Dante and Crime reporter Sydney. Nice
pairing. This is a bit noire-ish with a fairly detailed crime scene and a
potential for a little more gruesome to come. A political complication should
work well to get both Dante and Sydney on edge. We get to see both of the
protagonists in their natural element and some character development.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/169009433-dreams-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">Dreams</a> – Harlequin Romance</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The old caught in a snowstorm proximity trope. It never gets
old. Never really happens in my part of the world so it has the advantage of distance. Stevie and Mick are the only people in the
universe stupid enough to be out in a blizzard. Stevie pays the price by ending
almost in a ditch. Mick is the grumpy guy who rescues her. Then they get to the
motel…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/161854549-duality-part-one" target="_blank">Duality</a> – Nocturne</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is very much a fantasy setting with Mila and her blind
guardian Anna living isolated in the woods. Mila has a gift for growing things
and powers she needs to practice. Someone will come to kill her and she needs
to be prepared. This is another young heroine and the hero is not a mortal man.
We get to meet him as well as the heroine.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/160362156-finding-home-sytycw15-specialedition-finding-home" target="_blank">Finding Home</a> – Special Edition</h4>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Andie has had the responsibility of her family ever since
the tragic death of her parents when her youngest brother was still at school.
Her specialist Christmas shop is vital for the family finances because her
other brother is still building up his veterinary practice. Connor has history
with Andie back when she was a high school senior so his return to sell her
building out from under her is adding insult to injury. This is another story I’ve
read right to the end. At times it felt like almost too much was happening but
it fits the SE line well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/164119506-heart-on-fire-part-1-pitch" target="_blank">Heart on Fire</a> – Blaze</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This could be a steamy one. Erin lost her husband four years
ago so bumping (literally) into a blond hotty with practiced charm is a little
unnerving. Cam is in his old home town on a temporary basis, helping out with
the mountain rescue team. The attraction between them is obvious, but it’s not
clear whether Erin is ready to move on or whether Cam is ready to settle down.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/163780843-hearts-for-sail-sytycw15-specialedition-part-i" target="_blank">Hearts for Sail</a> – Special Edition</h4>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is kind of a reunion romance but we only get to meet
Blake and Alex separately in this chapter. I didn’t much like Blake at this
point as the only insight into his character is his jaded opinion about women
as he dumps one unceremoniously on the phone. Alex is more appealing and
hopefully once they start to interact, Blake will soften a little. They are
both keen sailors so we might see some close proximity on the water later on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/167774803-high-stakes-sabotage-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">High-Stakes Sabotage</a> – Love Inspired Suspense</h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This was a very short chapter. Only two pages. But a lot
happens and we do get to meet the hero. The heroine, Dani, is transporting a
vanload of kids to a reservation when they go off the road. They are rescued by
Gideon and his dog Lou who live in a cabin nearby. I did skip over to the next
chapter just to see what happens. It was a bit of a time jump but it did dive
straight into more action. I don’t read LI Suspense so this might be a usual
thing. I would have expected more interaction between hero and heroine to give
us a better feel for how they interact before flinging the next big conflict at
us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/93336997-his-discarded-bride-sytycw15presents-part-one" target="_blank">His Discarded Bride</a> – Presents</h4>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
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At first glance this is looking like a traditional Presents
with Leilani, a flustered heroine who is far from glamorous, and Renato, an
Italian hero used to getting everything he wants. Surprisingly he chooses to
forgo his jet for economy class so he can size up the heroine. Traditionally he
should have organised the heroine to be bumped up to business or first class
but I guess the close confines of economy will test the limits of their
endurance. Some of the backstory and jumping back and forth in time was
confusing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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And because this is my blog I get to promote my own entry out of order. Known as #spymistress on Social Media this is the story of Trauma surgeon Gabe and Anna, a Russian spy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/143792627-the-spy-who-saved-me-sytycw15-carinapress-part-1" target="_blank">To go and visit click here</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To see my stunning book trailer with an earworm that will make you wish for Anna to put you out of your misery <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0I2k5JaZo" target="_blank">Click here</a><br />
<br />
And to double your suffering I have made a second trailer. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMs5PdZFjqU" target="_blank">Click Here</a>.</div>
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Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-79541531508515993402015-10-09T08:23:00.002-07:002015-10-09T08:23:51.857-07:00It's that SYTYCW15 time of yearHi world.<br />
<br />
I haven't blogged in a long time. It hasn't been a priority for me with all the other things happening on the family front in particular.<br />
<br />
But I have to blog for SYTYCW15. It's a tradition.<br />
<br />
This year has been organised very differently to past years. The stories have all been posted to Wattpad and now the top 55 first chapters have been chosen. I plan to read all the first chapters of the 55 top entries (apart from mine because I already know the ending). As I read them I'll post a little comment about them.<br />
<br />
Tonight I'm posting the first eight. I'm reading strictly in alphabetical order so there is no bias in the choice or order. The title should link to the story.<br />
<br />
Once I finish posting, I'll do a final post with my Top Pick selections.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Top 55 - First Eight in Alphabetical List</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/49307071-a-killer-among-us-sytycw15-intrigue" target="_blank">A Killer Among Us</a></b> - Intrigue<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This is a small town police procedural with rookie cop Colby
as the heroine and fellow Officer Tom Vitali as the hero. This is an action
packed first chapter. Only problem I had was the large number of people we meet
in the course of the events. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/47892463-a-little-taste-of-heaven-sytycw15-blaze" target="_blank">A Little Taste of Heaven</a></b> - Blaze<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
The wedding planner and the chef. Sounds like a match made
in heaven. Bella and Wyatt start off with a strong physical attraction. This is
a good setup and the heat level looks like exploding in the next chapter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/162540679-a-soldier%27s-princess-sytycw15-romantic-suspense" target="_blank">A Soldier’s Princess</a></b> – Romantic Suspense<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This is a crazy mix of princess and bodyguard and potential
destruction of the universe as we know it. Or at least a portion of it. This is
a reunion romance and we get a good look at Alana and Gage and their past in
this chapter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/152173661-after-the-harvest-part-1" target="_blank"><b>After the Harvest</b> </a>– CarinaPress<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This reminded me a little of the vintage romances I love to
read. Heavy on heroine introspection and a very clear picture of the obstacles
she is facing. The hero hasn’t appeared by the end of the chapter so I can’t
comment on him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/159747344-amish-under-fire-sytycw15-loveinspiredsuspense" target="_blank">Amish Under Fire</a></b> – Love Inspired Suspense<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This starts off with some high stakes drama and shows the
heroine in a very pro-active light. I was a little surprised considering the blurb
suggests she is Amish. The hero Derek appears early and we get some insight into
him as well. The blurb made me think of The Witness starring Harrison Ford from
1985.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/167314217-an-unsuitable-match-pitch-part-1" target="_blank">An Unsuitable Match</a></b> – Historical<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
A proposed match between Jeanne, a dispossessed Comtesse, in
the aftermath of the revolution and Gabriel, a man with a disreputable father.
The first chapter introduces the heroine’s perilous position and the hero’s
motivation for the marriage. The first meeting does not bode well at first. I was a little confused at her knowledge of
his father but that could be resolved later.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/165695324-part-1-as-long-as-we-both-shall-live-pitch" target="_blank">As Long as We Both Shall Live</a></b> - Heartwarming<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal">
This is a reunion story. Tawny, the heroine, left Alex the
hero, taking their daughter. We don’t know what triggered her leaving but we
learn something of her troubled background which could be significant. Alex
makes an appearance and we get a little view of where he is at. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/166422629-before-sunday-sytycw15-part-one-pitch" target="_blank">Before Sunday</a></b> - Superromance<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a first person narrative. I’m not usually a fan but
this reads easily. The heroine is at college and 21 so more New Adult in age. I’m
not sure exactly the direction it’s going. There are two guys in the story, best
friend Xavier and Jackson who appears out of nowhere. There is a magic cupcake
but it’s kind of cute. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And because this is my blog I get to promote my own entry out of order. Known as #spymistress on Social Media this is the story of Trauma surgeon Gabe and Anna, a Russian spy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.wattpad.com/143792627-the-spy-who-saved-me-sytycw15-carinapress-part-1" target="_blank">To go and visit click here</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To see my stunning book trailer with an earworm that will make you wish for Anna to put you out of your misery <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L0I2k5JaZo" target="_blank">Click here</a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggnD-UB2T33TErZc5akdR9adlhrj3AdMoxsWQS9hPmTjSnzuT-alE9uauAaRwVMZ2fuJOo5PbgOTPZMiLcFY33cWs88cUV5YhDA430zzYeKmnSJ51WXBOXF2kOPk9vHUL73TLMWp0wA1E/s320/spymistresscover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="231" /></td></tr>
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Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-15973105746580028972014-10-01T09:45:00.000-07:002014-10-11T15:51:49.974-07:00SYTYCW 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UXCK6afwv1QPH2SNEj0XoA9AZLMutk3TUsyGs_Vn3SiJS9e8AtWTeHPjhhZGtawBwLr5tooy8SpefjqoKjF5rk7jV7BS-TWuctV8TCRTy6vRNzvKaDp_U5hIkGXrJVrgZ3fL9DoHzaI/s1600/lady_boxer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_UXCK6afwv1QPH2SNEj0XoA9AZLMutk3TUsyGs_Vn3SiJS9e8AtWTeHPjhhZGtawBwLr5tooy8SpefjqoKjF5rk7jV7BS-TWuctV8TCRTy6vRNzvKaDp_U5hIkGXrJVrgZ3fL9DoHzaI/s1600/lady_boxer1.jpg" height="305" width="320" /></a></div>
It's closing day for the SYTYCW14 competition and I promised I would put up my top picks of what I've read so far. Most of these were read in the first few days so don't include later entries. And when it all comes down to it...it's a matter of personal taste.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yf_XFk-Wx7NM-rPbgGFt7OJclxU3m_Qx2glycaCmSWM3-f365hll3lXyNAfcAVQUNyDaflG1GYW3hOk0hCkt4SDtX9v9imW-PUjoup7GvdVfcMLeEoMVjqT4Slofp_9_0D6bEt3fZWE/s1600/selleck.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yf_XFk-Wx7NM-rPbgGFt7OJclxU3m_Qx2glycaCmSWM3-f365hll3lXyNAfcAVQUNyDaflG1GYW3hOk0hCkt4SDtX9v9imW-PUjoup7GvdVfcMLeEoMVjqT4Slofp_9_0D6bEt3fZWE/s1600/selleck.JPG" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Bear in mind I have read less than 100 chapters so I could be missing dozens of fabulous entries. I have also read less of imprints I don't usually read so there will be big holes in my choices.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz29pOIKB__ibpOiXb7obaGWj8rqu-acYpt030Y7yKXEIzwiqqLYgS5BR4q4SW_73dlzbK4IFP7mZ1cVh-Ua6eC6N0eUsRNCqfr1zr49sLXMiAUp29q9yRK4Uwaq1iM3bz8sb-Mo9wyKc/s1600/emperorme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz29pOIKB__ibpOiXb7obaGWj8rqu-acYpt030Y7yKXEIzwiqqLYgS5BR4q4SW_73dlzbK4IFP7mZ1cVh-Ua6eC6N0eUsRNCqfr1zr49sLXMiAUp29q9yRK4Uwaq1iM3bz8sb-Mo9wyKc/s1600/emperorme.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
My top picks consist of entries that have three things.<br />
<br />
1. I like the story<br />
<br />
2. I think the writing is of a high standard<br />
<br />
3. The story is something I believe might appeal to the editors.<br />
<br />
Please note: ..I...I...I...It's all subjective. (see graphic above)<br />
<br />
<br />
So how did I do? 50% of my top ten made it into the Top 25 plus 2 of my recommended reads. I hadn't read 11 of the top 25 chapters. So of the 14 Top 25 chapters I had read, I picked 7. Additionally, one of my top picks was requested but withdrew due to time constraints. Just realised another of my top ten had to withdraw so I suppose if you don't count them it was 40% but if you do it's 60%.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/" target="_blank">Final List of Top 25 Picks</a><br />
<br />
<table style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: inherit; border-spacing: 20px; border: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Leah Maser</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/wanting-the-detective/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wanting the Detective</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tanya M. Burnstad</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/remembrance/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Remembrance</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Alison French</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/her-italian-man/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Her Italian Man</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amanda Cinelli</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/resisting-the-sicilian-playboy/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Resisting the Sicilian Playboy</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Traci Douglass</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/about-that-night/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">About That Night…</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chase Ewing</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/love-for-sale/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Love for Sale</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">R. Lynn Dewitt</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/sophies-hart/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Sophie’s Hart</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">T.R. McClure</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/a-perfect-match/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Perfect Match</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Katherine Dane</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/agent-of-desire/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Agent of Desire</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Autumn Shelley</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/fire-and-iron/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fire and Iron</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Carolyn Hector</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/mistletoe-mischief/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mistletoe Mischief</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ison Hill</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/impulse/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Impulse</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Karin Baine</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/belfast-belle/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Belfast Belle</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amy Jane</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/learning-to-love-again/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Learning To Love Again</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shelley Iñón</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/when-the-bus-stopped/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">When the Bus Stopped</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Thérèse Marie</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/a-foundation-of-love/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Foundation of Love</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeannie Hall</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/violation-of-innocence/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Violation of Innocence</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Analiesa Adams</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/in-desperate-search-of-peace/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In Desperate Search of Peace</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Katie Meyer</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/paradise-found/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Paradise Found</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sam(antha) Burns</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/saving-greene-farm/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Saving Greene Farm</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Janet Lee Nye</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/man-maid/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Man Maid</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Laura Brown</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/perfect-together/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Perfect Together</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Narelle Buxton</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/changing-her-baby-plan/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Changing Her Baby Plan</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Darby Karchut</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/stones-heart/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Stone’s Heart</a></td></tr>
<tr style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Megan B Zehring</td><td style="background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/the-prodigal/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #c5161d; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Prodigal</a></td></tr>
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<br />
Top 25 Picks So Far with Imprints<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Paradise Found - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Katie Meyer - (Special Edition) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Belfast Belle</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Karin Baine - (Medical)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Man Maid - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Jan L Nye - (Superrromance)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Perfect Together</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Laura Brown -(Superromance)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">About That Night</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Traci Douglass - (Blaze)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sophie's Hart</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Gina DeWitt - (Heartwarming)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Mistletoe Mischief</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Carolyn Hector - (Kimani)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Resisting the Sicilian Playboy</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Amanda Cinelli - (Presents)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Violation of Innocence</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Jeannie Hall - (Suspense)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Agent of Desire</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Katherine Dane - (Historical)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wanting The Detective</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Leah Maser - (Intrigue) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Faking It</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Taryn Leigh Taylor - (Blaze) Withdrawn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Fire And Iron</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> - </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Autumn Shelley - (Historical)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twist of Fate - </span><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Susanah Loccarno - (American) Withdrawn</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Prodigal - Megan B Zehring - (Love Inspired)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stone's Heart - Darby Karchut - (Love Inspired)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Desperate Search of Peace - Analiesa Adams (Romantic Suspense)</span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Her Italian Man - Alison French - (Presents)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Saving Greene Farm - Samantha Burns - (Special Edition)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Impulse - Ison Hill - (Kimani)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remembrance - Tanya M Burnstad - (Intrigue)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the Bus Stopped - Shelly Inon - (Romance)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Foundation of Love - Thérèse Marie - (Romance)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Changing Her Baby Plan - Narelle Buxton - (Superromance)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love for Sale - Chase Ewing - (Desire)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Perfect Match - T R McClure - (Heartwarming)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #292f33; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fcfcfc; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.000919342041px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learning to Love Again - Amy Jane - (Medical)</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdqQnLwXGcMssBtJVrqb19amufcuqhl-YV2o_5l8Kl2pBPcIZISYmH86N8ZDfif9J01C2gzNpj9Lumm4aveNr9F0U7UJqj5usbYZ5eEtp5A943sxrWB-I6aSdWimQRGB5zId3ZndI30Q/s1600/look+see.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdqQnLwXGcMssBtJVrqb19amufcuqhl-YV2o_5l8Kl2pBPcIZISYmH86N8ZDfif9J01C2gzNpj9Lumm4aveNr9F0U7UJqj5usbYZ5eEtp5A943sxrWB-I6aSdWimQRGB5zId3ZndI30Q/s1600/look+see.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
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In no particular order - My top picks so far.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdBajjp6YmOeg3ZTkkF_q-5ldm0HGZV7HQFDGJRK7hjPByGUYWzEGc6-2HA5qrOVKsjm1KchgizSNy_yE1YDlzmH8noUMyhP3MK3w9JITHYSQiroNhagqbCidk8h41l39wYyy8pk_mxY/s1600/snoopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdBajjp6YmOeg3ZTkkF_q-5ldm0HGZV7HQFDGJRK7hjPByGUYWzEGc6-2HA5qrOVKsjm1KchgizSNy_yE1YDlzmH8noUMyhP3MK3w9JITHYSQiroNhagqbCidk8h41l39wYyy8pk_mxY/s1600/snoopy.jpg" height="350" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h4>
Presents</h4>
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/at-his-disposal/" target="_blank">At His Disposal - Danielle Doolittle</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/savage-pride/" target="_blank">Savage Pride - Maggie Jones</a> - Requested<br />
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/the-rinaldo-heir/" target="_blank">The Rinaldo Heir - Dora Bramden</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/resisting-the-sicilian-playboy/" target="_blank">Resisting the Sicilian Playboy - Amanda Cinelli</a> - SYTYCW Top 25<br />
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<h4>
Blaze</h4>
<div>
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/about-that-night/" target="_blank">About That Night - Traci Douglass</a> - SYTYCW Top 25</div>
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/faking-it/" target="_blank">Faking It - Taryn Leigh Taylor</a> - SYTYCW Top 25 - Withdrawn</div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
Medical</h4>
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/learning-to-love-again/" target="_blank">Learning to Love Again - Amy Jane</a> - SYTYCW Top 25</div>
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<h4>
SuperRomance</h4>
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<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/man-maid/" target="_blank">Man Maid - Janet Lee Nye</a> - SYTYCW Top 25</div>
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<br /></div>
<h4>
Special Edition</h4>
<div>
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/rescuing-riley/" target="_blank">Rescuing Riley - Carol Opalinsky</a></div>
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<div>
<a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/manuscripts-sytycw-2014/little-hot-mess/" target="_blank">Little Hot Mess - Devon McKay</a></div>
<div>
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<div>
<h4>
</h4>
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p0MFlL1SwFhgPiz0j4wsi0BHuVSzHVmB90fDbFKfuILGLYrW6ebdB9sCvMhTOCw7_f1nf6H2jX5T5RJWCiVZFr9KOhK1moLlZyeJ4AxfsgQAKYZQZksERvY-Xc2WzefWDPnk4Ny-sjw/s1600/wait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0p0MFlL1SwFhgPiz0j4wsi0BHuVSzHVmB90fDbFKfuILGLYrW6ebdB9sCvMhTOCw7_f1nf6H2jX5T5RJWCiVZFr9KOhK1moLlZyeJ4AxfsgQAKYZQZksERvY-Xc2WzefWDPnk4Ny-sjw/s1600/wait.jpg" height="640" width="569" /></a><br />
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But wait...there's more.<br />
<br />
I'm putting a list of recommended reads here without links. These are ones I would have liked to put in my tops but felt they needed a little something extra.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Presents</h4>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9069; mso-width-source: userset; width: 186pt;" width="248"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 186pt;" width="248">Proof of
Love</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Kate Francis<br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9069; mso-width-source: userset; width: 186pt;" width="248"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 186pt;" width="248">Playboy
Sheikh, Forbidden Heir - Requested through slush</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl63" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Emily Keeler<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9069; mso-width-source: userset; width: 186pt;" width="248"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 186pt;" width="248">His
Gilded Trap</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Calida Ally<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9069; mso-width-source: userset; width: 186pt;" width="248"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 186pt;" width="248">Paying
the Sheikh's Price</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Sue Child<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 248px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 9069; mso-width-source: userset; width: 186pt;" width="248"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 186pt;" width="248">Traitor
in the Sheikh's Bed</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ros Clarke<br />
<br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM74rGxV-7g11E5RXwbIATorX_jgn6QGiTtFubh0LetLZFA-C_xr0wbHs1HWMrhVvnF362UjbVHr9No39HiMafeKU_92RfxboxivxVxI9-pfP_Jf9PL4vhsqAzb2sTxl3WsFPJRE-nkI/s1600/pascal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbM74rGxV-7g11E5RXwbIATorX_jgn6QGiTtFubh0LetLZFA-C_xr0wbHs1HWMrhVvnF362UjbVHr9No39HiMafeKU_92RfxboxivxVxI9-pfP_Jf9PL4vhsqAzb2sTxl3WsFPJRE-nkI/s1600/pascal2.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is my hero...Pascal...who belongs in this section in my opinion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Blaze</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5193; mso-width-source: userset; width: 107pt;" width="142"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 107pt;" width="142">Strip
for Me</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jem Lowe</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Discreet Pleasures</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Megan Ryder</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;"><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15pt;">Over Easy</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15pt;">Casey Wyatt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;"><colgroup><col style="width: 107pt;" width="142"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15pt; width: 107pt;" width="142">Homegrown Rockstar</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15pt;">Heather Hopkins<br />
<br />
At Her Service<br />
Mia Sosa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;"><colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5193; mso-width-source: userset; width: 107pt;" width="142"></col></colgroup><tbody></tbody></table>
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
Romance</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 164px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5997; mso-width-source: userset; width: 123pt;" width="164"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 123pt;" width="164">Beauty
& the Recluse</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Ellie Gray<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 164px;"><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15pt; width: 123pt;" width="164">Falling Deep</td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15pt;">Tasha Taylor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuM01UvgzhLGJcv1TQUXuQX00oq_NOqE41yElBQbCl8yd767-x_LJdGXI47RnwivVquTRT7oEmbE9ehyL_1H4C03leBqZfWNQfML2UYs3gRVQPWY27u8zO31ztrSZXink_3I8JZP_SQw/s1600/social.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuM01UvgzhLGJcv1TQUXuQX00oq_NOqE41yElBQbCl8yd767-x_LJdGXI47RnwivVquTRT7oEmbE9ehyL_1H4C03leBqZfWNQfML2UYs3gRVQPWY27u8zO31ztrSZXink_3I8JZP_SQw/s1600/social.jpg" height="242" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just because I love this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 164px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5997; mso-width-source: userset; width: 123pt;" width="164"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 123pt;" width="164"></td></tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;"><br />
<h4>
Desire</h4>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 126px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4608; mso-width-source: userset; width: 95pt;" width="126"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 95pt;" width="126">Love for
Sale - SYTYCW Top 25</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Chase Ewing</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h4>
Medical</h4>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 176px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 6436; mso-width-source: userset; width: 132pt;" width="176"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 132pt;" width="176">Emergency:Two
Blue Lines</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Catherine Coles</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<h4>
Special Edition</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5193; mso-width-source: userset; width: 107pt;" width="142"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 107pt;" width="142">How Not
to be a Tabloid Cover Story</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">CA Speakman<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5193; mso-width-source: userset; width: 107pt;" width="142"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 107pt;" width="142">Wake Me Up Inside</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Gina Hagedorn</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Intrigue</h4>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 161px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5888; mso-width-source: userset; width: 121pt;" width="161"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 121pt;" width="161">Hunted
by the Past</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Jayne Evans<br />
<br />
<h4>
Love Inspired</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 124px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 4534; mso-width-source: userset; width: 93pt;" width="124"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 93pt;" width="124">Love Thy
Enemy</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Erica D Hearns<br />
<br />
<h4>
American</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 144px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5266; mso-width-source: userset; width: 108pt;" width="144"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 108pt;" width="144">The
Cowgirl's Lost Love</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">Sophia Sasson<br />
<br />
<div>
<h4>
Historical</h4>
</div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Fire and Iron - SYTYCW Top 25</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Autumn Shelley<br />
<br />
<h4>
SuperRomance</h4>
<br />
Love at First Flight<br />
Maria Michaels<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
And just a couple of ones that I'm not sure if they are quite right for the line but they made me laugh...in a good way.<br />
<h4>
Blaze</h4>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 142px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5193; mso-width-source: userset; width: 107pt;" width="142"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 107pt;" width="142">Seducing
the Senator</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">Elle Marlow</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<h4>
Intrigue</h4>
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 161px;">
<colgroup><col style="mso-width-alt: 5888; mso-width-source: userset; width: 121pt;" width="161"></col>
</colgroup><tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 121pt;" width="161">Birthday
Disaster</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td class="xl65" height="20" style="border-top: none; height: 15.0pt;">TN Payne</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW9y9BKqSHKbw4f1SJHNmKn9Qh4cNomYL-JNtg1_SACMmvjQej_6hojMDjT1ayXMuRZ2jKQg9jx33f5TiZtz7TVYP76g-tTYAZc8MF9swd6wIjp-VkMqE3IKfrtBFR-0RYJjBL5N-vvo/s1600/laughingrd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW9y9BKqSHKbw4f1SJHNmKn9Qh4cNomYL-JNtg1_SACMmvjQej_6hojMDjT1ayXMuRZ2jKQg9jx33f5TiZtz7TVYP76g-tTYAZc8MF9swd6wIjp-VkMqE3IKfrtBFR-0RYJjBL5N-vvo/s1600/laughingrd.gif" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-54237917511299260662014-08-14T19:49:00.002-07:002014-08-15T09:52:57.083-07:00What A Lady Craves Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hrNJu1ieF2-mSq4nEenfyzAcAcHCIddCd4d87CVNkEVk_AWKlXXYHG73eT2i2OHtNPBTJeVxlBwbTowwMPodvo3kkldchxjJrAqDrd56K6TAabe36GBELLXQzFOYJXA0xW6kW_UTWDg/s1600/What+a+Lady+Craves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hrNJu1ieF2-mSq4nEenfyzAcAcHCIddCd4d87CVNkEVk_AWKlXXYHG73eT2i2OHtNPBTJeVxlBwbTowwMPodvo3kkldchxjJrAqDrd56K6TAabe36GBELLXQzFOYJXA0xW6kW_UTWDg/s1600/What+a+Lady+Craves.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
This is the first time I've participated in a blog tour so forgive me if I get it wrong.<br />
<br />
The book is as pictured. Very nicely pictured in fact. What A Lady Craves. Self explanatory really.<br />
<br />
I used to read a lot of historical romance in my teens and the first books I wanted to write were historical. Usually Georgette Heyer fan fiction I suspect but it made a change from my Anne McCaffrey fan fiction. If only the internet had been invented back then.<br />
<br />
I've recently started writing historical romance again and so I've taken to reading more historical as well. I was interested to see this line from LoveSwept.<br />
<br />
I'm half way through this story and enjoying it thoroughly. Henrietta is engaging, the humour is fun without being tedious and Alexander...well you know...see the cover for details. Ashlyn has also created a nice set of supporting characters that have depth and personality and we've been introduced to one of the other men in this Eton boys series and hints about the third gentleman.<br />
<br />
I'll be back later when I finish reading.<br />
<br />
I'm back...and here is my review.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This is the sort of book you should read and enjoy without thinking too much about it. It is at first glance an enjoyable romp with humour, a touch of boys own adventure stories and a romance with some sizzle.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The reunion of Henrietta and Alexander was bound to be fraught. He left England to salvage his families fortune leaving his fiancée behind, promising to return. Instead he marries someone else in India and Henrietta is left to face the ridicule of London society forcing her to withdraw from all contacts and eventually, to take a position as companion to Alexander's great-aunt. Lady Epperley is an eccentric and quite well drawn and entertaining.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The story takes up when Alexander and his Indian servant are shipwrecked close to his aunt's house and he must recuperate from his injuries under the wary eye of Henrietta. Thrown together, their reunion is complicated by the arrival of his daughters and the matchmaking efforts of his great-aunt. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Henrietta is disturbed by the news that he has recently been widowed and his daughters have lost their mother. She is tantalised by the might have beens...</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The introduction of an element of mystery with dark strangers threatening locals and hints about the tragic deaths that follow Alexander is a plot device that brings that element of an adventure tale that is just slightly over the top. Even the Indian servant has an air of mystery about him adding to the faintly gothic overtones.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I have to say the romance lacked the emotional intensity I expected considering the history between these two. It didn't quite match the fairly explicit smex scenes. They were well done but overwhelmed the emotional elements. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The characters were well drawn and the author did well with the secondary characters who each had quite distinct personalities. Now and then it reminded me of Heyer's extended casts of characters from a range of social spheres.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Henrietta had a very definite personality and I liked her little quirks and interior monologues when confronted by her eccentric employers behaviour.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Alexander...well he was a nice guy but by the end of the book I was a little disappointed.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">All through the book I kept remembering this quote... "I could not love thee, dear, so much,: Lov'd I not Honour more" from the 17th century poet Richard Lovelace.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="cursor: pointer; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1027419732" target="_blank">(view spoiler) </a>I explain this in detail in a spoiler in my Goodreads Review.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Overall this was an enjoyable read. It suffered a little from an identity crisis, not sure if it wanted to be an adventure story, a light-hearted romp or a sizzling ball of angst. The characters from the rest of the series were introduced and look interesting enough that I shall look out for them.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This was an ARC for review. I think you can tell I've been honest.</span></span>Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-76208412843067353542014-07-03T20:29:00.000-07:002014-07-03T20:29:49.646-07:00Why New Adult is inevitable and Necessary for the Romance Industry.<br />
The "next big thing" in Romance is the New Adult sub-genre. By now, everyone knows it, but as little as three years ago people weren't talking about it.<br />
<br />
Now it's everywhere and people are jumping on the bandwagon. Even Harlequin M&B tried to market to it within their category lines.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-vax0W4BPd3tIAEH4l_fH6xslzzaJ_zEnr_1hP2xQYrm3V-Shbr_SWwF7LsuzR1cWvwehyphenhyphenUTAgWQOgB6wSt8Esz7JS3YrRDPjoojNAwY0S5d3Bu-rZHH_ml1muU5_4wlDW9fEzO768zv/s1600/COVER_AllofYou_.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-vax0W4BPd3tIAEH4l_fH6xslzzaJ_zEnr_1hP2xQYrm3V-Shbr_SWwF7LsuzR1cWvwehyphenhyphenUTAgWQOgB6wSt8Esz7JS3YrRDPjoojNAwY0S5d3Bu-rZHH_ml1muU5_4wlDW9fEzO768zv/s200/COVER_AllofYou_.JPG" width="124" /></a><br />
But why this sudden splurge of coming of age romances?<br />
<br />
Because there was a big black hole in Romancelandia. It was like a small town where all the school leavers have left to go to the big city and didn't come back.<br />
<br />
Young adult as a genre is stronger than ever with the ubiquitous trilogy plus stories being made into movies. These stories cater to the adolescent verging on adulthood market (and quite a few middle aged women) The young adult market is resistant to including more intense romances with young people experiencing sexual relationships or leading to marriage within a genre that is read by children from around nine years old. So where do you go next?<br />
<br />
Once upon a time it would have been category romance edging out the Babysitters Club and Judy Bloom. But not any more.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376170629l/18306335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="18306335" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376170629l/18306335.jpg" width="150" /></a>Because mainstream romance is getting older. The bulk of heroines are late twenties and into the thirties. This is particularly true in the category lines with stories about successful professional women and their successful professional men. The medical lines, the good old fashioned doctor nurse romances, always tended a little older because to be a nurse or doctor you had to have spent years training and now we are seeing more heroines in that line nudging into the thirties. Where are the sweet stories about first year nurses falling for the hot doctors? Or vice versa.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371719602l/998794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Road To The Border" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1371719602l/998794.jpg" /></a>When I was a fourteen year old, (yes I was once a teenager, don't tell my children), I read category romances with heroines mostly aged between eighteen to twenty-three. These were the mainstream romances and the heroines were mostly considered mature enough. Yes there were older heroines. Mostly in the medical profession, but in an era when a lot of girls had been in the workforce from sixteen, maturity was expected at that age. Most were virgins, most were in their first job or at most just left college. Sounds like New Adult to me.<br />
<br />
So what does fourteen year old read in romance these days that would be the equivalent of a 1975 Harlequin Mills & Boon. Because a twenty-eight year old heroine is never really going to be someone a fourteen year old can identify with. OMG, that's almost as old as parents. Truly icky.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335070622l/13545548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Last Woman He'd Ever Date" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335070622l/13545548.jpg" width="126" /></a>The expected answer, the Cherish/Sweet category line, isn't going to meet the needs because it is full of single mothers and more mature heroines. Even if the sweet, closed bedroom scenarios are approved by Mom for her teenager to read, the story lines are not going to appeal to a teenager. The glamorous increasingly explicit Sexy/Presents line is generally not going to be something Mom wants to find her tweenage daughter reading under the covers, even if the exotic nature of the story lines helped overcome the age barrier. (we won't mention the titillation factor *giggles*)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347975233l/15803229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="At His Majesty's Request (Call of Duty, #2)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347975233l/15803229.jpg" width="126" /></a>Girls always want to read ahead of themselves. It's a normal part of growing up and learning what it means to be a woman (of course we all think we are WOMEN at fourteen). It's not until later we stop calling ourselves "nearly sixteen" and mumble "shady side of forty".<br />
<br />
The point is, that the romance industry had left a gaping great hole which means there is a generation of young women out there who never read a category romance. But now it's being filled with the influx of New Adult books flooding the market.<br />
<a href="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368431402l/17382857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Girl Least Likely to Marry (The Wedding Season, #2)" border="0" height="200" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1368431402l/17382857.jpg" width="126" /></a><br />
How is this working for the category lines? Not so good it appears. Because the closest thing Harlequin Mills & Boon managed to put forward was the KISS/Modern tempted line. It has younger heroines and heroes and is marketed as flirty and sexy. Maybe too sexy? Because the line is closing down, and it may be because the target market was that generation who never read a Harlequin Mills & Boon under the covers when they were fourteen. You have to catch them young.<br />
<br />
So we have New Adult. And with a whole lot more publishers out there, the competition is fierce. Now that the market is identified, everyone wants to be a part of it. I don't think the genre is new. I think it was a core part of mainstream romance that was sadly neglected as publishers chased the holy grail of realistic romances that reflected the social mores of the present day. More sex, later marriages, more single parent families, more second, third and fourth chance romances.<br />
<br />
They forgot that teenage girls don't want that kind of reality. They still want to dream about finding their prince charming the first time round.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-28748868621602418292014-06-16T03:06:00.000-07:002014-06-16T17:16:40.135-07:00Diversity in Romancelandia<br />
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<h3>
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Towards a more diverse population in Romancelandia.</span> <span style="background-color: purple; color: white;">An aspiring writer’s perspective.</span></h3>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781460327081_p0_v5_s260x420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/p/9781460327081_p0_v5_s260x420.JPG" height="200" width="126" /></a>Harlequin Mills & Boon are running a <a href="http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/historicalheroes-writing-competition-details" target="_blank">Historical Heroes</a>
tournament at present which is a wonderful thing and a great opportunity. But the limited range of
heroes suggested by the competition opened up an interesting billy of worms.<a href="http://www.jeannielin.com/historical-heroes-im-a-teacher-not-a-fighter/" target="_blank"> The question was asked</a> - Where were the opportunities for ethnic heroes when the
competition seemed to be asking for British Gentlemen, Knights and Tudor Lords,
Vikings and Warriors? Warriors might encompass a broader demographic. But what
of Chinese Scholars and Black Businessmen? Are they not heroic enough or are
there supposedly none out there?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n30/n151347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img1.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n30/n151347.jpg" height="200" width="120" /></a>There has long been a perception that romance is dominated
by “white” sensibilities. Looking back over my decades of Harlequin Mills &
Boon reading, I have to say they are not entirely wrong. The most exotic of
reading might bring a sheikh or even a Turk. But often this alien culture was
softened by a French or British mother and frequently an education received at
a fine British institution.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="http://images.mobilism.org/?dm=JFPH" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.mobilism.org/?dm=JFPH" height="200" width="142" /></a>Modern contemporary romances are stretching the boundaries.
We have Indian heroes and heroines and even a black Frenchman in the Presents
lines. Brenda Jackson, a long established author and also a POC (Person of Colour-this is the
term being used in the on-line discussion) has a series of romances in the
Desire line featuring African-American protagonists but they seem to be a niche
even within the mainstream. Sarah M. Anderson is writing Desire romances and
others featuring First Nation heroes (Please excuse me if I get the current
designation wrong). Special Edition have a few interracial romances. Harlequin even
have a dedicated line for interracial and POC romance. I’ve read the Kimani
line and as a Aussi with minimal daily contact with American POC I did
notice differences in language but otherwise, not much different.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347620280l/8613870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347620280l/8613870.jpg" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="126" /></a><a href="http://www.books-n-kisses.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/MysticCowboy72web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.books-n-kisses.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/MysticCowboy72web.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>I’ve been puzzling about interracial romance for some time.
Because I’m white and I want to write about POC in my romances. Not
deliberately as some kind of crusade, but because characters just come that
way. The hero in the romance I put up for the Harlequin Sold Blog first page
critique is not entirely white. But he isn’t entirely a POC either. With an
unknown black father and brought up by a white mother in Australia, his
experience would be different to a POC brought up in a family in the US or even
England. I feel comfortable in writing about him because his experience is not
so far from my own.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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What I didn’t feel sure about was where he could be
published as he doesn’t fit standard category lines. I looked at a range of
digital publishers, mostly US based, wondering if I should try submitting the
story to one of them. But when I look at their offerings I noticed something that
made me as an Australian, very uncomfortable. Several of the digital publishers have a category “Interracial
Romance”. I hadn’t ever considered it as a “thing”. Without being aware of it, I wrote an
interracial romance. In fact I have written several. I have written a story
about a Chinese-Australian girl who falls in love with an Italian-Australian
boy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Queensland_State_Archives_2058_Surfo_planing_girls_Coolangatta_c_1934.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Queensland_State_Archives_2058_Surfo_planing_girls_Coolangatta_c_1934.png" height="200" width="151" /></a>Now I’m worried. Because I wonder if people will look at my
stories as some kind of statement. Will they look at my Chinese-Australian girl
and see racial stereotypes. Am I a racist because my heroine does Martial Arts?
Should I have made her a surfing groupie or something typically “white” just to
prove I don’t see her as “different”? Should I not make my Chinese-Australian
hero so enigmatic in case it plays into the stereotype of the “inscrutable Oriental”?
Should my Italian avoid Pizza and Pasta? Where do I draw the line?<br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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I recently went to see the Georgian era romance “Belle” at the cinemas. (Twice actually, cos I loved it so much.) It is a beautiful romance with such a positive heroine, the illegitimate daughter of a well-born sea captain and a black slave. The slave trade was in the background through her guardian, Lord Mansfield, who as Lord Justice had to pronounce on a significant legal issue with a slave ship, but it was not the primary story. The romance came first and it was lovely, if a little enhanced for the sake of the story. But at that time, in 1783, Lord Mansfield estimated there were 15,000 POC in England, slaves and free in a population of 7.5 million. I suspect many people would say that constitutes only a handful.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://dearauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/cover2-189x300.jpg" height="200" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="126" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where is the Black Hero?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhucMrI_86zYkPL6u63zFNcmq8GWTgQpbMORESkMFoz1VVrfgVADIV1e_nOnYMYzSd26beUFA48dj_xTjGQZnv4-Fbs3s3vWT-ZEzHIgw_WHe5UWoZBuA7cfYq3PBcJezbOpIpV5aOw04gLSMyu7xDF2NZ2cHEHcUdki9Un=" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0062032658.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg" height="200" width="123" /></a>In the Castonbury Park series published in 2012, Marguerite
Kaye, a historical author has written a romance between a white woman and a
black former slave set in 1816. I have come across the odd historical romance
with a half Indian heroine, but they are rare. Jeannie Lin has a fascinating
series of Chinese historical romances in the Harlequin line. In the broader
romance community, Beverley Jenkins writes romances with African-American
protagonists and First Nation heroes are found more often in American
historical romances. I’m sure there are others but they seem to be very much a
niche market.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I suppose to be truly diverse, no-one should feel the need to comment
when there is a hero or heroine of a difference ethnicity in a mainstream
romance. Somehow I can’t see that happening for a while. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<img alt="banner-belle-film" src="http://www.theyoungfolks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/banner-belle-film.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.amazon.com%2Fimages%2FP%2F0062032658.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhucMrI_86zYkPL6u63zFNcmq8GWTgQpbMORESkMFoz1VVrfgVADIV1e_nOnYMYzSd26beUFA48dj_xTjGQZnv4-Fbs3s3vWT-ZEzHIgw_WHe5UWoZBuA7cfYq3PBcJezbOpIpV5aOw04gLSMyu7xDF2NZ2cHEHcUdki9Un=" -->Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-79578173389506469202014-01-18T20:32:00.000-08:002014-01-18T20:32:59.433-08:00I haven't been very opinionated lately. Must be the Christmas Season...all that good will. To tide you over I'll post a short I did for the Writing Challenge on the Harlequin Boards. The theme was...it had to start with "<span style="background-color: #fafafa;">This past year hadn't been what he'd expected. If only" and there had to be a kiss. This was my entry which scraped into the winning spot by .4 of a point.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fafafa;">I like to think it is a Presents story told in 1000 words.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kAMhF7EifUxR8HGgfekAz49m4xV6ya-2KkFguhPOPivg-onKciK1ILfPmzxj28Eu7MJT5VbyRwyjqAyQNN8CZAwUWpjmDWdF4cqbcwUAdiRoM-XBDMey8-yW83xEonTbSRM4RaRNVwE/s1600/2014-01-11+19.13.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4kAMhF7EifUxR8HGgfekAz49m4xV6ya-2KkFguhPOPivg-onKciK1ILfPmzxj28Eu7MJT5VbyRwyjqAyQNN8CZAwUWpjmDWdF4cqbcwUAdiRoM-XBDMey8-yW83xEonTbSRM4RaRNVwE/s1600/2014-01-11+19.13.20.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over Princess Royal Harbour, Albany, WA where I attended a wedding last week.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafafa;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fafafa;">Coming Home</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">This past year hadn't been
what he'd expected. If only he hadn’t walked away, leaving Lily alone. At the
time, with his anger threatening to overthrow his control it had been the
obvious thing to do. Go away and cool down. Then go back and sort things out
with Lily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Only Lily had been gone.
Their room, usually so immaculate, looked like a bomb exploded. There were
clothes everywhere. The contents of her jewellery box scattered over the bed.
She hadn’t taken a single thing he’d given her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Twelve months later and he
was no nearer finding her. The bedroom was immaculate once more, all her things
restored to cupboards and drawers. Her scent had faded, only a whisper of
lavender and vanilla when he stirred the clothes in the walk in robe. Soon it
would be as if she’d never been a part of his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Lily halted the car at the
entrance of the Belliconi mansion. Would Nick have changed the codes? Winding
down the window, she pressed the keys of the security panel. With a buzz the
heavy gates parted. Odd that security conscious Nick hadn’t ordered new codes
after she left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">The paved driveway curved
up to the portico, the pillars faintly reminiscent of an antebellum plantation
house. The double doors loomed impressively and she hesitated. She owed this to
Nick…and to Lucas who looked so like his father. Even if Nick didn’t believe her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">The past year hadn’t been
what she expected. If only… She shook her head. When Nick asked her to move in
with him eighteen months ago, the only fly in the ointment was his spoiled
younger brother. Danny, who Nick felt responsible for, so he had him living
with him in the ocean front property he called home. He had been in rehab when
she and Nick first met at her gallery. It had only taken six weeks for him to
destroy everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">The door chime echoed
through the empty rooms, pulling Nick out of his absorption. The latest reports
from the private detective were promising. He had tracked Lily to Adelaide,
Melbourne and then Sydney through the gallery’s that showed her paintings. Post
Office boxes weren’t much help, but they indicated the direction she was
moving. Closer to home. He allowed himself to hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Striding across the foyer
to the door, he quashed it. There was still the issue of the child. How would
she explain that small aberration? Dragging open the heavy door, he froze, his
heart stopping and then thumping hard. Lily…and the child. A boy, all black
curls and bright blue eyes. A Belliconi through and through. It should have
been his. Would have been if fate had not thrown his charming brother in Lily’s
path just when he needed to be out of the country on business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“Lily. What can I do for you?”
Just the right tone, he congratulated himself. Cool and a little distant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“I’ve come to see you about
Lucas. My son.” Her son. Well the boy was as good as fatherless with Danny back
in rehab.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“I suppose you want some
financial arrangement. Unfortunate that Danny is unavailable. Perhaps you could
come back another time.” In about six months, going on his brother’s usual
pattern.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“I know he’s not here. I
wouldn’t set foot in this house if he was here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“That’s a different story
from the last time you were here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">She sighed, adjusting the
child on her hip. He was a solid child and she was so slightly built. Skinny,
she called it. Not his usual type certainly. His past women had been tall
blondes with plenty up top, and he didn’t mean above the neck. She looked
tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“You’d better come inside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">She should have known
better than to come back. Nick wasn’t interested in his son. He’d barely
glanced at Lucas and his voice, usually so warm, was putting off arctic chill.
Seems like he’d believed Danny’s drunken ramblings. Well either way, he would
believe Lucas was a Belliconi and that meant he was entitled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Following Nick to his
study, she had an opportunity to study him. He seemed thinner but it was hard
to remember after a year apart. The Tee and jeans clung lovingly to his
muscular torso and hugged his butt. What was wrong with her?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">She was glad to sit down,
resting Lucas on her knees while Nick fiddled with papers on his desk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“I want you to move back
in.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Not quite believing her
ears she stared at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“I said I want you back.
Danny will never be a father to the boy. I can offer that at least. The child
will need a father. A proper family.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“You want me back? Even
though you believe I had an affair with your brother, had a child by him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">He looked uncomfortable,
his eyes lowered, avoiding hers. “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“What if I said no?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">That brought his face up,
the intense blue eyes wide. “Why would you refuse? It’s a good deal. We were
good together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">Lily stood up, letting the
anger out. “Because I couldn’t be with someone who doesn’t trust me. Who
believes his lying brother before he believes me. I can’t live like that. All I
want is financial assistance for Lucas. He should have the chance for a good
education.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“I didn’t believe it once I
had a moment to think. But you didn’t come back, so I thought it must be true.
I thought you were afraid to come back. I’ve been searching for you all year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“Even though you believed
that of me?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“Don’t you know I would
forgive you anything? I need you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“You never said. I thought
it was just about the sex.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“It was never just that.”
He smiled crookedly. “Though it helped.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">He was around the desk in
an instant. “My son?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">“Our son.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">His arms wrapped around
them both. “I love you, Lily.” His lips met hers, soft and tender. She was
home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-45005765764994481862013-11-19T05:10:00.000-08:002013-11-19T05:10:27.783-08:00When Good Heroes Go Bad<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yzwdh-1Zi9wrSqC8pIX-kRyhMHtgnB-vamDOgMfvkRysrAGAegiDyp-6xEmbe_M4UNZNgO0C7U1hjUdplYdRsI-MnsrzjSOXh388RxGPJdcPISc38u69LyCtQlZRjinRHD33nfr-XVQ/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yzwdh-1Zi9wrSqC8pIX-kRyhMHtgnB-vamDOgMfvkRysrAGAegiDyp-6xEmbe_M4UNZNgO0C7U1hjUdplYdRsI-MnsrzjSOXh388RxGPJdcPISc38u69LyCtQlZRjinRHD33nfr-XVQ/s320/022.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some people were upset that Superman kills<br />the bad guy in his latest incarnation <br />"Man of Steel" staring Henry Cavill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today has been the sort of day that I wonder if I'm really meant to be a romance writer.<br />
<br />
Which is funny because I was notified that I was one of six people chosen to pitch to eHarlequin (Contemporary) so I should be feeling on top of the world. Especially coming after making the top 50 in the <a href="http://www.soyouthinkyoucanwrite.com/2013-top-10-manuscripts/" target="_blank">SYTYCW2013 </a>competition. The quality was exceptionally high this year so even making it to the top 50 out of over 700 entries is pretty special.<br />
<br />
"So how can this be?" you ask. It comes because I was reading one of the top ten entries and absolutely loving it. Beautifully written and a wonderful emotive story. And then the hero, after being sort of jealous about the possibility that the heroine had been with other men, casually drops the information that he'd been with other women during the two years of the separation.<br />
<br />
Apparently his ego took such a beating when the heroine said she didn't love him, it was necessary to go and have meaningless sex with nameless women. After all men have needs and he also needed to forget this woman he loved passionately.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In the interests of realism, this is now quite acceptable behaviour for a hero. One, going out and sleeping with women while separated but still married to the heroine (who he supposedly loved). Two, using nameless women to relieve his sexual frustration (and try to forget the heroine).<br />
<br />
So in Romancelandia we accept that heroes will have sex with someone other than the heroine even when still married to her. We also accept that it is perfectly acceptable for a hero to have meaningless sex with nameless women. I can only hope the nameless women enjoyed the one night stands and didn't develop an emotional attachment to the hero. Probably they did simply enjoy the sex because in this new world, women don't develop feelings for their one night stand unless they are in a romance novel with that trope. Confused? I certainly am. There has to be some kind of feminist logic in there somewhere.<br />
<br />
It's not that I object to stories being written with those happenings. I know many, probably most people, don't have my skewed view on what is desirable behaviour for a romance hero.<br />
<br />
But now and then I get the feeling that somehow, by stating out loud that I would prefer it if a hero had not behaved in such a way, I am seen as betraying the sisterhood. A sort of "love me love my dog" equation. Surely if I feel so emotional about a characters behaviour (I cried real tears) it means I really care about them and so it becomes a complement to the writer. But it always seems to be taken as a criticism.<br />
<br />
So what has all this to do with me doubting my place in the Romancelandia world? <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_p15eBnGFujBK7SpCF1qXocbbLOQl1BmFhdyeORXYHKjAev5mY8Gul7LCe3M1OeeguvzrJToRWni5gyUEyS6PkPoS3fEssvKolN-a_M16vAguRS4d5b-hcC_vAoGA1vKzJdaPYln5Ho/s1600/zipper-scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_p15eBnGFujBK7SpCF1qXocbbLOQl1BmFhdyeORXYHKjAev5mY8Gul7LCe3M1OeeguvzrJToRWni5gyUEyS6PkPoS3fEssvKolN-a_M16vAguRS4d5b-hcC_vAoGA1vKzJdaPYln5Ho/s320/zipper-scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The least thing I can imagine happening to an unfaithful hero</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Every one trying their hand at writing has doubts of course. My doubts mostly consist of whether anything I write will be commercially publishable in the modern world. If the trend in romances is any indication, we are living in a world where sexual fidelity does not have the significance it did in past decades.<br />
<br />
When I look at all this, I wonder if this "realism" that is permeating even the last bastion of "Pleasant" reads, the Harlequin, Mills & Boon, will forever close it's doors to someone like myself who cannot bear to have my hero betray his married vows even under the direst of marital breakdowns. Because no-one in the real world would believe a hero can keep his pants zipped for any length of time.<br />
<br />
<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-17279328781662808212013-09-03T18:48:00.000-07:002013-09-03T18:55:32.268-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib5chF03bUzvQ04mlTrOSBwx8OywPSFVhi7FPeaGr2Bbp8p30E0RK8yfVak0jw7-xHRHQIUckp2c_oMgWyDyHIm3r-wMuPdxAHs3U8_57PJwXuiMATuBe7Po67n_GBsXy4rtDLShLppU/s1600/DRSABCD-Poster-20122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiib5chF03bUzvQ04mlTrOSBwx8OywPSFVhi7FPeaGr2Bbp8p30E0RK8yfVak0jw7-xHRHQIUckp2c_oMgWyDyHIm3r-wMuPdxAHs3U8_57PJwXuiMATuBe7Po67n_GBsXy4rtDLShLppU/s320/DRSABCD-Poster-20122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A Short Story to tide you over...</span></span></h2>
<br />
Last week I went and did my CPR update and was chatting on twitter afterwards. I mentioned that if a gorgeous guy were to fall at my feet I was prepared. I was due to write a 1k short for the Harlequin boards so this is the result. It came second incidentally. Not enough romance. For those not in Australia, we dial 000 triple zero instead of 911.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
<br /></h2>
<h2>
<span style="color: purple;">Be Careful What You Wish For.</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>God, he was beautiful.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the corner of her eye, Suvati scanned the stranger
seated along from her in the waiting room.
The white-blond hair over a golden, classically beautiful face, the
broad shoulders, narrow hips and legs long enough to… <i>Don’t even think about it.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She dropped her gaze back to the magazine, trying to focus
on the latest gossip about some actress or other but her eyes were drawn to him
again and again. He seemed indifferent,
the vivid blue eyes staring straight ahead at the blank wall. Suvati couldn’t help wondering what brought
the frown to his face? What brought him
here today? He looked healthy enough, his body well developed and muscular,
like an athlete.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What she wouldn’t do to have a man like that at her feet. What was a man like him doing in this small
rural town? She’d have seen him
before. Unless he was the new CEO of the
Moncrieff Mining Consortium due to arrive this week?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His eyes shut briefly giving her the opportunity to take a
really good look. Her first impression
of his face hadn’t lied. He really was
beautiful. The high cheekbones, the long
straight nose between heavy lidded eyes, and his mouth. Full, well shaped lips with the tuck in the
corners that suggested humour despite his frown. To have that mouth under hers...it would be
worth dying to be kissed by him just once.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fingering her grandmother’s jade pendant, Suvati smiled
wryly at her thoughts. Wishing wouldn’t
bring a gorgeous stranger to her feet, desperate for her kisses. But she wished anyway, comforted by the warmth
of the stone under her fingers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A murmur of sound brought her back from thoughts of Grandma Aditi. A choking gurgle came from the strangers
throat. One hand pressed to his chest as
the other flailed in the air, the long fingers splayed before they clenched
tightly in a fist. As she watched, he
slid to the ground in a heap, his face white as chalk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Leaping to her feet, Suvati glanced over at the receptionist
who sat gaping. ‘Call the
ambulance. Dial Triple Zero.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dark head ducked down behind the counter, followed by
the clatter of the phone as the girl fumbled with the receiver.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking down at the man at her feet, Suvati tried to
remember what she’d learned at her First Aid classes only a few weeks ago.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Check for Danger.</i> Okay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Moving the chair away from his head, she knelt down. What came next? <i>Check for Response.</i> ‘Can you
hear me? Open your eyes.’ Taking his limp hand, she leaned over,
assessing his condition. ‘Can you hear me?
Squeeze my hand if you can hear me.’
It lay flaccid in hers. <i>Please don’t die. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Is the ambulance
coming?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Receptionist nodded. ‘It’s
on the way. They said to start CPR.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Can you help?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No…no way.’ The girl backed away. ‘I’ll wait at the door to
show the paramedics in.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking down at the stranger’s pale face Suvati knew she had
no choice. He wasn’t breathing. Releasing his hand, she gripped his jaw and
the back of his head, tilting it back.
She couldn’t see any rise and fall of the chest and no whisper of air from
mouth and nose. <i>Open Airway.</i> Done.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Resting the heel of her hand on his chest, trying not to
notice how good the muscle felt under her touch, she found the right spot. <i>Thirty
Compressions</i> ‘One and two and three and four…’ She counted carefully as she
pushed down with both hands. <i>Now two breaths.</i> She sucked in a deep breath. This was not how she imagined kissing this
man. It certainly wasn’t what she wished
for…was it? An awful suspicion clouded
her thoughts for a second. <i>Stop it.
He could die while you debate the question.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gripping his nose and chin Suvati lowered her mouth over
his, careful to form a seal as she breathed, turning her head to watch the
chest rise. <i>All good.</i> A second breath
and his body convulsed beneath her.
Coughing and spluttering he pushed her away roughly, just as the
paramedics burst into the room. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sidelined, she watched as the two uniformed men dealt with
the patient. They hardly seemed to
notice her as they placed the blonde stranger onto a trolley to wheel him away. He may be conscious but they had no intention
of letting him go under his own steam.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>She didn’t even know his name.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hospital corridors were busy at this time of day,
visitors hurrying to greet loved ones burdened with flowers and mysterious
packages. Probably food or clothing
items. Nervously Suvati stopped at the
door of the room the nurse had indicated.
<i>Would he resent her interest?</i> She
just wanted to see he was okay. A simple
question and then she would leave</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He lay in the bed with the sheet at his waist, a hospital
gown covering that broad chest, staring out the window.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Um…excuse me.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those eyes were just as blue as she remembered. His sandy brows rose slightly, in a question.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m Suvati. I was in the waiting room at the Radiologists
when you…’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Collapsed at your feet?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His voice was luscious, deep and slow with a faint accent.
‘Yes.’ She thrust her parcel at
him. ‘I brought you some fruit…grapes. They grow them here.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His strong sinewy hand reached for
the gift. ‘Thank you. That is most
kind.’ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Standing awkwardly, she wondered what to say. He didn’t seem inclined to talk, choosing a
grape and popping it into his mouth. His
mouth. <i>Oh Gosh, she was staring.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Licking his fingers, he returned her look narrowly. ‘So I fell at your feet and you gave me the
kiss of life. How was it for you?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>How was it?</i> ‘Probably better
for me than you?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Perhaps we should try again
some time. When I’m conscious.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His warm gaze sent prickles of
awareness all over.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Perhaps we should.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The End</div>
Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-68510780370041601472013-08-23T03:54:00.000-07:002013-08-23T03:54:35.406-07:00I went to a conference, a Romance Writer's Conference.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMEbFn_IkqxSWh0nkM3-ZsR-BV23jtbn1J_NjPgiRk8vkgsGHyNlZOjWD2Qu_EUK2vZyE-EDFFu7uNPwiGrH_1ow_kaWZOjR5ys9yugotDOeiBzTrSnY_yy1DZ867AzLDl59yddIMkEw/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMEbFn_IkqxSWh0nkM3-ZsR-BV23jtbn1J_NjPgiRk8vkgsGHyNlZOjWD2Qu_EUK2vZyE-EDFFu7uNPwiGrH_1ow_kaWZOjR5ys9yugotDOeiBzTrSnY_yy1DZ867AzLDl59yddIMkEw/s320/210.JPG" width="320" /></a>I suppose you are all expecting me to talk about the fabulous Seminar by Kim Hudson. A workshop entitled Virgin on the Half Shell was bound to get me to attend though I would have liked the Georgette Heyer workshops at the academic conference.<br />
<br />
There were lots of fabulous workshops to help my writing and of course I put my name down to pitch with a couple of the publishers. Probably the less said about that the better *mumble mumble* total stuff-up. Whatever.<br />
<br />
What I want to talk about is my fan-girl moments. You may have somehow received the impression I'm a Mills and Boon fan from the dawn of time. Near enough. I read my first Mill's and Boon Romance in 1976 when I went to Brisbane to go to boarding school. Now there is a stressful environment that requires total escapism.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan Stephens and Carole Mortimer</td></tr>
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Anyway...this being said I've read lots of Mill's and Boon romances, from my three a day addiction while trying to forget my imprisonment *cough* educational institution to my current, never without a book at hand life. This blog is mostly about the Harlequin Mills and Boon authors I met at the conference. I met lots of fantastic and lovely authors of all different romance genres <br />
but it would take a book rather than a blog to list them all.<br />
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Around the same time I started reading romance, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carole_Mortimer" target="_blank">Carole Mortimer</a> started writing them. She had her first book accepted in 1978 and has been writing ever since. Needless to say I've been reading them ever since and have a large plastic box full to overflowing as she's written over 200 books.<br />
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So when I found she was coming to the RWAus13 conference in Perth with another English Mills and Boon author I've read over the years, <a href="http://www.susanstephens.net/" target="_blank">Susan Stephens</a>, I was naturally excited. (Understatement) I only walked past them three times before I got up the courage to ask for a picture. And being the lovely ladies they are they obliged. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7d7WJMvorSTJSSEN9NTocjdS1q6qhF3BnOvOBvHMX3uN7lDrMuGykLfhT9lgL63jJjlkyC7greML7TVNo-vfYDt0oObNF540zIh1eRCVRWYdbV77EqtpLCgnM08QcjR_BKEpvfX450I/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7d7WJMvorSTJSSEN9NTocjdS1q6qhF3BnOvOBvHMX3uN7lDrMuGykLfhT9lgL63jJjlkyC7greML7TVNo-vfYDt0oObNF540zIh1eRCVRWYdbV77EqtpLCgnM08QcjR_BKEpvfX450I/s200/247.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEatsJ5MSMJibGdudG5ohIZyknF-Q0m7z3SVtzXmm4i38S8GNx-eNykdpYYympjyvhrqMSv4IZrKAgB-pC3V3_DgLDsBkf3WMCzDPf4mHXftVIPQlkq4cXqThIQpNSIHPDW1Z4KB_rhgE/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEatsJ5MSMJibGdudG5ohIZyknF-Q0m7z3SVtzXmm4i38S8GNx-eNykdpYYympjyvhrqMSv4IZrKAgB-pC3V3_DgLDsBkf3WMCzDPf4mHXftVIPQlkq4cXqThIQpNSIHPDW1Z4KB_rhgE/s320/240.JPG" width="240" /></a> Of course one of my major motivations for booking for the Perth conference (apart from the very educational workshops) was that <a href="http://www.maiseyyates.com/" target="_blank">Maisey Yates</a> was coming from her home near Seattle in the U.S.A. Maisey is at the other end of the spectrum from Carole, a new author with Harlequin, Mills and Boon who writes stories I really love. (including a virgin hero)<br />
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With her is <a href="http://jackieashenden.com/" target="_blank">Jackie Ashenden</a> from New Zealand, another new author who writes for *shhh* Samhain and Entangled with some frabulous heroes. She just announced a new series with St. Martin's Press. <br />
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I stalked them all the way to Rottnest Island, the ARRA signing and pictured here at the costume party on the Friday night of the conference.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-jcZXfn1qUn_TFdRGn0KcxURq80BQf35c-_7NnGDnZ_V_oc8OxqFyR7XP9bC86Gnf6zBMgkmWe8Kjcs5wXU9oEqKRAhmqR23wQbl55VNuxP_Vh5X6Su_P7QecmhmqxNYK1cmTzrGhMs/s1600/caitlin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-jcZXfn1qUn_TFdRGn0KcxURq80BQf35c-_7NnGDnZ_V_oc8OxqFyR7XP9bC86Gnf6zBMgkmWe8Kjcs5wXU9oEqKRAhmqR23wQbl55VNuxP_Vh5X6Su_P7QecmhmqxNYK1cmTzrGhMs/s320/caitlin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caitlin Crews, Me looking smug and fangirly and Maisey Yates</td></tr>
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Special Bonus Author from US was Caitlin Crews<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYodiAqPl9bctTfGxwEynKymoc_SSi71ESAmK9UOjqETBs5ULgRp7UFuYq6i_W2DQ2Dg1vf9MFHEkRm7qAC-4WzCfLKVt-b1e8AaarMGyjIpOUYEwLw3-fzw13LEIvLLtheuczmIuTkw/s1600/266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYodiAqPl9bctTfGxwEynKymoc_SSi71ESAmK9UOjqETBs5ULgRp7UFuYq6i_W2DQ2Dg1vf9MFHEkRm7qAC-4WzCfLKVt-b1e8AaarMGyjIpOUYEwLw3-fzw13LEIvLLtheuczmIuTkw/s200/266.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicole Flockton</td></tr>
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Another lovely author I met on line who writes for Crimson Romance and Escape Publishing is <a href="http://www.nicoleflockton.com/" target="_blank">Nicole Flockton</a>. She writes lovely Mills and Boon style romances with classic alpha males and a series with a medical slant. This is Nicole at the Awards Night on the Saturday night of the conference. An Australian living in the U.S. she came home to visit family and attend the conference.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtX64aWyEP-SdeRcWlnsmiIpQxycy0zLcVepNAgRsfiRy_jJYFlM3NpdnBqsaBcl6dwP5sBTxvCnEVr-TYySy9aPSAuzbTOolclQp6lPNAUNefB3Hmvetf4oYEy8P_MYwaoruN2PN2TA/s1600/241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtX64aWyEP-SdeRcWlnsmiIpQxycy0zLcVepNAgRsfiRy_jJYFlM3NpdnBqsaBcl6dwP5sBTxvCnEVr-TYySy9aPSAuzbTOolclQp6lPNAUNefB3Hmvetf4oYEy8P_MYwaoruN2PN2TA/s320/241.JPG" width="320" /></a>It was also great to meet <a href="http://www.paularoe.com/" target="_blank">Paula Roe</a>, a Harlequin Mills and Boon Desire series author who I met last year and also at ARRA13 in Brisbane. Following the Nautical and Nice theme, she came as an island complete with Palm Tree and Parrot. Sunbaking on her golden sands is Seal, <a href="http://rachaeljohns.com/" target="_blank">Rachael John</a>'s, who writes great Rural Romance published by Harlequin Australia.<br />
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Here we have a Medical Contingent with <a href="http://fionamcarthur.com/" target="_blank">Fiona McArthur</a>, <a href="http://www.millsandboon.com.au/author/emily-forbes" target="_blank">Emily Forbes </a>(Ruby Winner) and <a href="http://www.amyandrews.com.au/" target="_blank">Amy Andrews.</a> With them is Mills and Boon Medical (and other things) Editor <a href="http://www.romanceaustralia.com/freo/index.asp?pageno=79#sheila" target="_blank">Sheila Hodgson</a> who will hate me forever for this picture but she wasn't fussed on my story pitch anyway so it's all good really.<br />
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I also met Sarah Wendell from <a href="http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/" target="_blank">SmartBitchesTrashyBooks</a> blog site. Most embarrassing fangirl moment. Uh...you...*flails* Yeah me speechless. Hard to imagine but it happened. Naturally she was thrilled to meet me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOlYSVJf3mZNYtXwoA8QUpXZdSCWikppd8fDpoxPHiXrH5BJGo9mGG-XQgobMwUglxPIX9ojOkgekqhbQtjCLVFnordEGtPdqH6zzYGEwrXCIZOB1ll7_nDR-VRSZab0hleObL3-JuhU/s1600/authors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOlYSVJf3mZNYtXwoA8QUpXZdSCWikppd8fDpoxPHiXrH5BJGo9mGG-XQgobMwUglxPIX9ojOkgekqhbQtjCLVFnordEGtPdqH6zzYGEwrXCIZOB1ll7_nDR-VRSZab0hleObL3-JuhU/s640/authors.jpg" width="556" /></a><br />
I've run out of pictures of people I met. My iPhone battery always died at the inconvenient moment. Instead here is a selection of books I brought home written by authors I met at the conference. They include <a href="http://www.emmiedark.com/" target="_blank">Emmie Dark</a>, <a href="http://www.michelle-douglas.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Douglas</a>, <a href="http://melaniemilburne.com.au/" target="_blank">Melanie Milburne</a> (we shook hands), <a href="http://www.rachelbailey.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Bailey</a> and <a href="http://www.annie-west.com/" target="_blank">Annie West</a> as well as authors mentioned above. I'm also pretty sure I saw <a href="http://www.leah-ashton.com/" target="_blank">Leah Ashton</a> in a Nice Biscuit.<br />
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Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-42907078511514359392013-08-07T06:41:00.000-07:002013-08-07T07:09:38.917-07:00When is an Alpha Hero not an Alpha hero....<br />
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When he's a Cowboy who is also an Indian<br />
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Are you confused yet?<br />
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I read romance for the heroes. Yup. Oh I know there has to be a heroine in there somewhere but really she is just a place card for me...<br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327976877l/869319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Honey is Bitter" border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327976877l/869319.jpg" width="193" /></a>I've been reading romance for close on forty years and through most of that time, the Alpha hero has ruled the pages. I remember the ones from the seventies, who used their power and influence to force the heroine into marriage, who were not above a little forced seduction. These days, the feminists among us call them jerks and I nod sagely and slide my stash of vintage alpha jerks out of sight.<br />
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The modern Alpha is usually distinguishable by his revolving bedroom door, his billionaire status (inflation has effected more than the size of their manhood.) and usually some childhood trauma that is his excuse for being a jerk. Seriously, they are mostly still jerks but they are too PC to actually rape their heroines. Now their virility seduces the heroine into bed faster than you can say internal conflict. (Same result but the feminists are happy because the heroine is ready, willing and able.)<br />
<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348821956l/11054149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Wife in the Shadows" border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348821956l/11054149.jpg" width="202" /></a><br />
So why am I burbling on about Alpha's. It's because I've discovered a new kind of hero. Shall we call him a Gamma hero. Has the power of the Alpha but the sensitivity of the Beta. They are subtle and sexy in the best way.<br />
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Sarah M. Anderson's Men of the White Sandy series are just the most amazing heroes. They are...indescribably gorgeous. Most of us wouldn't really want to live with an Alpha hero...but these guys are ready and packaged to take home for a Happy Ever After you would die for. I've just finished Masked Cowboy, following on from Mystic Cowboy and I'm already hanging out for the next one. It probably helps that I'm a sucker for an American Indian from way back.<br />
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I've reviewed both the books and include the reviews here.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Cowboy-Men-White-Sandy/dp/1619216426/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375884553&sr=1-11" target="_blank">Mystic Cowboy </a> *****</h3>
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349712486l/16075314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mystic Cowboy by Sarah M. Anderson" border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1349712486l/16075314.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Sooo. Just dragging myself away from contemplation of the cover. Rebel Runs Fast is some hot cowboy, even if he happens to be an Indian. And he is just as hot, just as gorgeous inside the covers.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Rebel is no alpha male, but he is something else, in the best possible way. He is the kind of hero that makes you want to...well in Australia it's totally impractical to go looking.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Madeline is the closest you could get to an alpha female, a driven doctor with money, used to power but searching for something more than the life she'd been destined for.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">They both have something the other needs, but with lives so different, expectations so far apart it could be an impossible task. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I love the way Rebel 'gets' Madeline and oh so gently draws her into his world. Uptight Madeline reveals a whole different side under the gentle handling of a mystic cowboy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">The painting of the Lakota Reservation, the people, the struggles, the history is all very well done without being heavy handed.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I look forward to seeing more of the Men of the White Sandy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Masked-Cowboy-White-Sandy-ebook/dp/B00C9WFSBS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1375884523&sr=1-1&keywords=masked+cowboy" target="_blank">Masked Cowboy </a> ****'</span></h2>
<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1367285104l/17832190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Masked Cowboy (Men of the White Sandy, #2)" border="0" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1367285104l/17832190.jpg" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">4 1/2 stars. What can I say about Jacob Plenty Holes? He is just fascinating. What else can you call a man</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> who each Summer evening does a Flashdance style semi-strip with a glass of water in front of every woman in the small town of Faith Ridge, South Dakota. This is the same guy who wears a mask to cover scarring on half his face.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The heroine,veterinarian Dr Mary Beth Hofstetter took me a little longer to warm up to. I prefer to keep my modern sexually liberated women in the real world. Mary Beth has a bit of a mouth to her which contrasted sharply with the lack of chattiness from Jacob. As I got to know her better I liked her more. But it is Jacob that kept me reading.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Like Mystic Cowboy, this book has a fairly strong mystery element dating from three years ago when Jacob received the injury to his face. He also became the sole carer to a small girl. Kip is an albino, so stands out dramaticly on the reservation among the Lakota tribe. She doesn't speak and Jacob is extremely protective.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The action of the story takes place over quite a few months, allowing Jacob and Mary Beth to get to know each other realisticly so that when things develop it's a logical progression to the relationship.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The ending was extremely dramatic and the aftermath really sweet. It got me all emotional.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">We get to see Mystic Cowboy, Rebel and Doc Madeline along with Nobody and I'm still looking forward to his book. </span><br />
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<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-48926586738605745612013-07-23T05:54:00.001-07:002013-07-23T08:20:35.462-07:00Strangers on a Train.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpYAblSh8Fpx-Y4CjQMhS-jnBVhbEq7AzKaiFvKl8d0_7AlKUhXUUzL6d_RTRMShBaVo3mcLMscGoHh3sARwuq6R2009PZ0zh3CsSBGbnrpVFDVExWI0jV5wx7VdGVOqdCHaOgc7sDsA/s1600/The_Railway_Children_(book).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNpYAblSh8Fpx-Y4CjQMhS-jnBVhbEq7AzKaiFvKl8d0_7AlKUhXUUzL6d_RTRMShBaVo3mcLMscGoHh3sARwuq6R2009PZ0zh3CsSBGbnrpVFDVExWI0jV5wx7VdGVOqdCHaOgc7sDsA/s1600/The_Railway_Children_(book).jpg" /></a>Trains have always held a fascination for me. And I suspect the rest of the world. <br />
<br />
How many children grow up with Thomas the Tank Engine and move onto the Hogwarts Express? Does anyone remember The Little Engine That Could and The Railway Children?<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj3gXO3-jWYvxkNw1Zvwmjic4JexMqvVrJ_VJJrCVnE_GwvsW0U0Ve2rCkUeuWNFK5RsHP73jJQ5d9ciPWFG4zf4GZkhCciUFfmOsab0g-It4Tj0D9VlnsMpt8iFLs6nTZh836nY9xc4/s1600/Murder_on_the_Orient_Express_movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj3gXO3-jWYvxkNw1Zvwmjic4JexMqvVrJ_VJJrCVnE_GwvsW0U0Ve2rCkUeuWNFK5RsHP73jJQ5d9ciPWFG4zf4GZkhCciUFfmOsab0g-It4Tj0D9VlnsMpt8iFLs6nTZh836nY9xc4/s1600/Murder_on_the_Orient_Express_movie_poster.jpg" /></a><br />
How many<a href="http://www.abebooks.com/books/railways-stations-orient-express/train-thrillers.shtml" target="_blank"> mysteries and thrillers</a> take place on a train? How many romances do they meet on a train? <br />
Maybe not so many these days but back in the day trains featured prominently in Mills & Boon romances.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWsxfYujlhfxdMEGEoYUY6hiin7IqPqvqQY32Ve_CM_AuEjThiEgDqh_4wiYix1yqSbJDfPqYhpAoUP_2gmDF2Ys-fzG68d_dF7h-50PVCrVEr706u6zGAlRnvR9Y_acuufgDDJsxHWI/s1600/18079363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWsxfYujlhfxdMEGEoYUY6hiin7IqPqvqQY32Ve_CM_AuEjThiEgDqh_4wiYix1yqSbJDfPqYhpAoUP_2gmDF2Ys-fzG68d_dF7h-50PVCrVEr706u6zGAlRnvR9Y_acuufgDDJsxHWI/s200/18079363.jpg" width="133" /></a>Trains still have that fascination. Who could forget the climactic scene in Mission:Impossible with the helicopter following the train into the Channel Tunnel.<br />
<br />
Just recently I read a lovely story by Ruthie Knox called <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16162964-big-boy" target="_blank">Big Boy</a> where a couple meet in a train museum. It will be released in an anthology next February with the other talented authors in the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079363-strangers-on-a-train" target="_blank">Strangers on a Train</a> series of novellas.<br />
<br />
So railway stories are by no means dead.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3heQKM91d6yBWVQuXmMafQpCBdfi-z8ZQvyB_wA0dM9KpXBBfkm-Ve2npjGCCN72l-1Wg7P4H-SgdSiHt-FJ_XqyKL1WU0aqQ-qVuv_bmR_41WNEDyVm12UYxCFNneAPqfXSffxgOlj0/s1600/westlandercunnamulla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3heQKM91d6yBWVQuXmMafQpCBdfi-z8ZQvyB_wA0dM9KpXBBfkm-Ve2npjGCCN72l-1Wg7P4H-SgdSiHt-FJ_XqyKL1WU0aqQ-qVuv_bmR_41WNEDyVm12UYxCFNneAPqfXSffxgOlj0/s320/westlandercunnamulla.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Westlander at the railway station in Cunnamulla</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I first travelled in a train as a small child from Cunnamulla in far south west Queensland to Brisbane. It took close on 24 hours leaving on Sunday and Thursday morning and arriving in Brisbane the next morning. The trip home left on Friday evening and Tuesday evening. I can remember going up to the station, which was the end of the line, to watch the train come in for entertainment. We didn't have television until 1974.<br />
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When I moved to Brisbane the late 70's I travelled on trains quite regularly. The old wooden carriages with individual compartments inspired my Writer's Challenge story which I am posting below.<br />
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<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: purple;">Strangers on a Train - A romantic short</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bridget smoothed her hair complacently. The Jackie Onassis style shoulder length bob
suited her thick blonde tresses, the ends flicking up with only a tweak once
she took out the rollers. The train
lurched as it started to move and she checked her beauty case, sitting on the
ornate metal luggage rack. Pink, to
match her two piece suit. She looked just right for her interview. As long as she could remember, Bridget wanted
to be an Air Hostess. Today would be her
big chance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotgBColrSprCFXliaehTe3S-PyVDjlofrDENQ6EBjnOEdwwOtU34OuizikmUKrzhGpUNlHDDMqqGcDEhE9qFBhMZXuPWTfrJYUikrBBtUJZ9PP2TehYWIdoJ7l_YN4K6S_N2OU-zh9gU/s1600/LM12_0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotgBColrSprCFXliaehTe3S-PyVDjlofrDENQ6EBjnOEdwwOtU34OuizikmUKrzhGpUNlHDDMqqGcDEhE9qFBhMZXuPWTfrJYUikrBBtUJZ9PP2TehYWIdoJ7l_YN4K6S_N2OU-zh9gU/s320/LM12_0.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These trains still ran in the 70's when I was in Brisbane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A bang jolted her from her happy dream as the door of the
compartment opened and a battered guitar
case landed on the floor, closely followed by the owner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Are you insane? The train was already moving. You could have been killed.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The young man straightened up to an impressive height and
pulled the door closed. ‘I’m cool with
it, babe.’ For in spite of long, glossy
dark locks, he was most assuredly a man. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His lean face with the high cheek bones looked like one of
the paintings she’d seen at the National Gallery, the neat moustache and goatee
framing a half-smile on a beautifully shaped mouth. She was being observed by melting brown eyes
with long black lashes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flustered, she tried to assert herself again. ‘Do you make a habit of leaping on and off
trains?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Not usually. I just
happened to want to catch this one. I’m
on my way to Roma Street.’</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p> </o:p>So he would be with her almost the whole trip. ‘I’m going to Central Station. Do you have an
appointment in the City too?’</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXz_k_adqKrTs6UJnHxUDtw89MjIRIWnf8e7n7Zje3JSWwcXuWOinYGgW76rDFezEc3mnSMmgT-7Qrbs6J8Rd7lpsoI4TDRzUrIpIilMq0RmbNGJFEnOqwmAaiV69g93NqV-u6fypvPc/s1600/436384-square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXz_k_adqKrTs6UJnHxUDtw89MjIRIWnf8e7n7Zje3JSWwcXuWOinYGgW76rDFezEc3mnSMmgT-7Qrbs6J8Rd7lpsoI4TDRzUrIpIilMq0RmbNGJFEnOqwmAaiV69g93NqV-u6fypvPc/s320/436384-square.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King George Square back in the day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You might say that.
We’re having a sit in at King George Square. Peace, love and all that.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You’re a protester?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He looked at her sharply, no doubt recognising the distaste
in her tone. ‘You might call me that.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘My brother is serving in Vietnam. He’s been there for two months. We're very proud of him, serving his
country.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m sure you are. I
hope you never have to see him come home injured, or worse.’ His response was mild, the expression in his
eyes sincere. She’d expected a rant
against the war.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bridget watched him seat himself in the corner of the
compartment, stretching his long legs at an angle. His guitar case rested on the overhead rack
beside her beauty case. ‘Do you know someone who was
hurt?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘A few of my mates.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m sorry. I don’t
know anyone who’s been fighting in Vietnam.
Apart from my brother.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Then today is your lucky day.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She stared at his long hair and beard, the psychedelic
t-shirt. ‘You were a soldier? Why aren’t you still over there?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘They sent me home.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Why? Did you do something wrong?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He laughed. ‘So it’s true what they say. You are some dumb blonde aren’t you?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m not dumb.’ She
watched horrified as he tugged the shirt out of his well worn jeans, revealing
tanned flesh with a sprinkling of dark hair across his chest. ‘What are you doing. You can’t undress here…it’s…it’s a public
place.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Cool it, Princess. I’m just showing you why I’m back home.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRIiDWKTUIo4y2ct-wNPeAJcUGzBS1WMM2jhMzEWgg2DDVd9F0KFspMsplX9XAKrRNzGwh3O-ubXa0JA3huemzGSeMd0rPSpv4PAVUZ_mcK1cWU0WisiPbyBHm3KJ5QMTN_OyEksjZeA/s1600/800px-StateLibQld_1_77242_Roma_Street_railway_station,_Brisbane,_Queensland_ca._1953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRIiDWKTUIo4y2ct-wNPeAJcUGzBS1WMM2jhMzEWgg2DDVd9F0KFspMsplX9XAKrRNzGwh3O-ubXa0JA3huemzGSeMd0rPSpv4PAVUZ_mcK1cWU0WisiPbyBHm3KJ5QMTN_OyEksjZeA/s320/800px-StateLibQld_1_77242_Roma_Street_railway_station,_Brisbane,_Queensland_ca._1953.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roma Street Station - Clock tower is at King George Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Trying not to stare at the ripple of muscled chest, the even
pattern of lines and bumps down his stomach, Bridget sat primly in her seat. ‘I can’t see that showing off your…body is
proving anything except that you are some kind of exhibitionist, or lunatic.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Standing up, he gripped the baggage rack to steady
himself. ‘Whatever you say.’ She watched him twist on the spot, revealing
the long length of his spine below the wavy brown hair that came to just below
his broad shoulders.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Oh…my…’ Her throat
closed, swallowing the words as she stared at the crinkled mess of red and
white scarring that covered most of his back, vanishing below the waistband of
his jeans.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tears prickled and she blinked to try and force them
back. The stranger slumped back onto the
seat, pulling the shirt back over his head and shoulders, smoothing it down
over his stomach. ‘If your brother is as
pretty as you, Princess, you don’t want to see him messed up like me. Not for a pointless war that no-one is going
to win.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bridget had to stop herself from asking him if he really
thought she was pretty. There were more
serious issues at stake. ‘Of course
we’ll win. America and Australia
together will defeat the communists.
Daddy says so. He was an officer
in the last war.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Ah. So you’re a
Daddy’s girl. I bet you have the kind of
job to mark time until Mr. Right comes along to marry you.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Of course not. I’m going for a job interview today.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Really. Selling perfume at David Jones I suppose.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No. I want to be an Air Hostess.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The silence in the compartment was deafening. She could hear the rhythm of the wheels on
the train as he stared at her. As if she
were some kind of strange beetle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘What’s wrong with being an Air
Hostess?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘It’s exactly the sort of job I was talking about. Are you planning to marry a pilot and have
lots of little pilots in suburbia.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m not planning on marrying
anyone. It’s 1971 and I’m a liberated
woman.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
His eyes scanned her body. ‘You don’t look very liberated in that
outfit.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I don’t mean that kind of liberated. I mean…I’m going to be a career woman and
travel and be independent.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Wouldn’t you rather come with me and make a real difference
to the world, Princess.’ </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rLfFeaXO7VKmEpxtUWElvHzeqTp-SVch2EZywBhgVJvUx4-esuZs6QITJL645JQRlHhINadbqxJRdC-XdeUPi83hJ9PxIbUW0cZ-moDv5lBYECRlj5DMr5S9POUS9eTbRHWD6Jx04zI/s1600/central.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rLfFeaXO7VKmEpxtUWElvHzeqTp-SVch2EZywBhgVJvUx4-esuZs6QITJL645JQRlHhINadbqxJRdC-XdeUPi83hJ9PxIbUW0cZ-moDv5lBYECRlj5DMr5S9POUS9eTbRHWD6Jx04zI/s320/central.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Station- the far clock tower is King George Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The train was pulling into Roma Street and he stood up to
get his guitar case. He looked at her
appealingly. ‘If you come, I promise you
won’t regret it.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Stubbornly she shook her head. With a shrug he jumped from the train and she
watched him walk away.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Emerging onto Ann Street, Bridget hesitated, remembering
melting brown eyes, a soft appeal. Her
interview was to the left, King George Square to her right. After a moment, she turned right.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nxodF8BGLIdouIdJgtG8eUCps3eogbxRiK-Drvmn0gTHcRCvYPOc_vDts5CUn2hBMzSP-64SCgYrJ5QaUBc9CZJAqkceH5W1S9dXhneK-DVuOq5VEEFxgWiFGD2rZPsZXWTI_LeOXws/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nxodF8BGLIdouIdJgtG8eUCps3eogbxRiK-Drvmn0gTHcRCvYPOc_vDts5CUn2hBMzSP-64SCgYrJ5QaUBc9CZJAqkceH5W1S9dXhneK-DVuOq5VEEFxgWiFGD2rZPsZXWTI_LeOXws/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for a train to go by in Stanthorpe a couple of weekends ago<br />
Steam trains come to Stanthorpe regularly and are very popular.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-88258630524449959082013-06-10T05:37:00.000-07:002013-06-10T05:40:39.808-07:00Sometimes I want to be a Historical Romance Writer.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So a while ago I wrote this little short for the Writer's Challenge. Please note that it is probably very derivative of my favourite historical author. I have all Georgette Heyer's books and they live on my Prozac shelf.</div>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Runaway <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">If only she didn't have to walk. In spite of the horses standing idle, the carriage hadn’t been an option. Not without alerting Mama. Her soft kid boots were scuffed and dusty and Letty was almost sure she
had a blister on her heel. The pelisse,
so cosy in the early hours, now raised an unbecoming glow in the heat of
mid-morning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Running away from home seemed fraught with
difficult choices. The distance to
Little Padbury that appeared an easy stroll from Beaumont now stretched into a
vast distance when encumbered by two hatboxes.
It was to be hoped that dear Mama would allow her trunk to be sent on
once she was settled in her new position.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">To be sure, Mrs Leigh and her adorable sons may
be a little challenging for a young lady less than twelve months out of the
schoolroom herself. But after all, two
boys barely out of the nursery shouldn’t be harder to handle than the young men
a young lady encounters on her first season.
Indeed, very young boys were known to have an aversion to kissing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Letty frowned at the memory of that kiss. It had ruined everything. Pleasurable at the time. In fact rather more than pleasurable. But the resulting proposal when the rakish
Duke had been caught by that prosy Mrs Pikely, had not been the way Letty
wanted to become the Duchess of Beaumont.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">With a sigh, she stepped off the dusty road
and settled down on a tree stump, a hatbox on each side of her. Hopefully a farmer on his way to Little
Padbury might take her up in his wagon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Untying her bonnet, she used the large poke to
fan herself. The sound of horses coming
at speed almost made her drop it, but they were coming from the opposite
direction to Beaumont. As the equipage
came around the corner, she recognised it as a high perch phaeton and
four. Driven by a Corinthian of the
first stare, as betokened by the numerous shoulder capes on his coat and the
reckless tilt of his hat on the dark, curling locks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At first she thought he might sweep past her,
but at the last minute he checked his horses and her heart sank. His hawk-like visage was intimidating and
those grey eyes colder than a winters day.
A well set up man of close to thirty with powerful shoulders and strong
thighs in the tight fitting breeches. She
felt her heart beat a little faster. But
it was the long fingered elegant hands that drew her eyes as he held the high
fettled livestock with ease. Hands that
could be both strong and gentle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Going somewhere, My Lady?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Indeed yes.
But do not be concerned. I can
make my own way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I doubt there will be any others on this
road. It’s not market day you know. You’d far better come with me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“But I’m going to catch the Mail at Little
Padbury. I intend to be a governess.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“You’ve missed it for today. It comes through very early in the
morning. Come child, I’ll not hurt you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Reluctantly, Letty stood up, limping a little
as she approaching the phaeton. She was
tired and hot and thirsty and she only had a few guinea’s in her reticule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Seated, not without difficulty, she waited
until they were bowling along at a rapid pace.
“I suppose you’ve come home to see if your bride is enceinte with the
expected heir.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">His glance raked her. “And is she?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“No. So
I suppose we must go through the whole farce again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Was my lovemaking so distasteful to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh no.
Well, perhaps it was a little painful at first. But afterwards…” She could feel the warmth rising. Her face must be blotchy but he continued to
look at her in the way that made her all prickly so perhaps he didn’t notice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Then why did you treat me like a pariah the
next day? All that prim and proper ‘My
Lord’ and not letting me kiss you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Mama came in while you were out with the
bailiff. She reminded me that I must do
my duty as you have need of an heir. She
also said I must try not to notice you dined with Mrs Massey the eve of our
wedding.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">She sniffed unbecomingly and
continued in a mournful tone. “I fear I
am rather the noticing kind. But perhaps
I would not be a very good governess. I have
no talent for managing young men it seems. If you forgive me for running away and take me
home, I shall try to be a conformable wife to you Gervaise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“If you are going to throw every youthful indiscretion
at me, Letty, I shan’t think you conformable at all. I don’t suppose your Mama thought to tell you
Mrs Massey has been Moncreiff’s familiar for the last five years. I dined with both of them and several others
beside.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“But I distinctly remember she was your very
special friend when we first met.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Your memory is very inconvenient. I’ll have you know I’ve been a paragon ever
since a scrubby little schoolgirl fell out of an apple tree at my feet and
stole my heart.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Letty’s heart pounded in a disgracefully
unladylike manner. “She did? I mean, I did?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Have I ever lied to you Letty?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t recall so. You’ve always been very kind. All the girls at Mrs Sutter’s Academy agreed
you sent the nicest bonbons.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh Letty,
you’ve been an unconscionable time growing up. I know you are still very young, but I
couldn’t wait any longer. Especially
with those young fribbles always hanging around. I wanted to be your first kiss. Your first everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“But you were, you are. Besides, I’m seventeen and quite, quite
grownup.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He laughed in a way that thrilled her. “Yes, my sweet. You are quite, quite grownup. In the nicest way.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #f2f6f8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The phaeton slowed under his skilful
handling. And then he kissed her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-54174154084431034782013-06-10T05:20:00.000-07:002013-06-10T05:20:48.088-07:00A Touch of HistoryI'm a Georgette Heyer fan from way back. You can tell this by the fact that I use the word Odious in my everyday speech. I also read Roberta Gellis and quite a few 'bodice rippers' in my teens. I also love Ellis Peters Cadfael mysteries with those sweet little romances in each one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330643840l/13263350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Fair Concubine (Tang Dynasty, #3)" border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1330643840l/13263350.jpg" width="202" /></a><span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">This is my first Jeannie Lin historical and a great introduction to a very different era and culture. The setting of the Tang Dynasty in 800AD is beautifully rendered in a simple and unobtrusive manner. The heroine Yan Ling is the lowest of the low, a foundling working in a tea-house where Fei Long is seeking his runaway sister. When he realises Pearl's flight is to some extent his fault, having ignored her early pleas for help, Fei Long lets her go with her lover.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">A combination of his absorption in his problem and Yan Ling's fiery temper results in the tea-house girl being cut loose and a man in need of a Princess to save his family honour is not too proud to pick up a stray servant to train her to take his sister's place as a treaty bride with a far off kingdom.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Of course in a romance it never works out quite so easily. Yan Ling is so much more than a mere servant and as he gets to know her, Fei Long finds that what she is inside becomes more important to him than what she can do for his family honour.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Yan Ling is intrigued from the start by this rather cool, controlled former soldier. As he teaches her the skills she needs, her feelings start to go astray. She finds herself not as practical as Fei Long insists.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ms Lin introduces an interesting cast of characters, in particular the servant girl Dao, and the theatrical artist, Bai Shen who takes on training Yan Ling in the art of womanhood. A nice touch of irony from a male actor.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The romance between Yan Ling and Fei Long fairly sizzles even though we don't see any intimacy through most of the book. Yan Ling is the perfect foil for the buttoned up Fei Long, encouraging him to look beyond the rules and regulations and see Honour and Duty as tied up with the Heart rather than appearance and social acceptance.</span><br />
<br style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I thoroughly enjoyed this story and even though the solution to the problem was fairly clear only halfway through the story, the culmination of the story was very satisfying. Ms Lin has a nice strain of humour that runs through the book and the ending leaves you with a smile from the humour as well as the romance.</span>Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-17340668881116807522013-05-18T09:17:00.001-07:002013-05-18T09:17:11.271-07:00When Emily Got MarriedI've just finished reading When Honey Got Married. I enjoyed it thoroughly, perhaps because I've just been through a family wedding at Easter. And it was that kind of wedding. Honey and Emily could be besties because the attention to detail, the craving for perfection, it was all there. Absolutely beautiful but terrifying in the execution. I include photos of my daughters wedding in lieu of Honey's.<br />
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This is my review. ***** 5 Stars because it made me cry.<br />
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<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367125701l/17834453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="When Honey Got Married" border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367125701l/17834453.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This was an amazing read. Four novella's centred around not the bride but the sister, the best friend, the wedding planner and the potential 'other woman'.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Honey has organised a humdinger of a wedding. As over the top as you could get with hummingbirds and honeysuckle galore. While she's having bridal jitters and flipping from Bridezilla to the Runaway Bride, the women around her are having their own dramas.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Because among the wedding guests and organisers are some seriously hot men. Like Beau, the chef at Belle Fleur, the wedding venue, who is an old acquaintance of Grace the Wedding planner. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Cousin Rainer, who would do anything for Brent and Honey, including heading off Eve, Brent's work colleague who had a 'moment' with him just before he got engaged. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Then there is British Alex, Nina's best friend at the Circus who comes with her as her plus one.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Finally there is Griffin, Brent's brother, who was always around when Pippa was Brent's girlfriend back in the day and somehow made her more aware of him than ever Brent could.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Over the four stories, we get to see these romances develop, but we also see how each of these women help or influence Honey in getting through the biggest day of her life.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">This is such a feel good read. What more can you ask for but not one but FIVE happy endings. And if you get a little teary and emotional on the way. Well that's even better.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvRaTAnvkHa9FtQwrJKcjrsJ_GJEh7842cjCyRa9g0Rem7qRVZIVXgeQrzoc9csyZUUrcd9PbyBfjSYLecLqWHjO7-9ejL2k5KNopQrN4I20ynTwyWjAs2Uyh2qHSykH3z8b4DtgRzII/s1600/Dion+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvRaTAnvkHa9FtQwrJKcjrsJ_GJEh7842cjCyRa9g0Rem7qRVZIVXgeQrzoc9csyZUUrcd9PbyBfjSYLecLqWHjO7-9ejL2k5KNopQrN4I20ynTwyWjAs2Uyh2qHSykH3z8b4DtgRzII/s320/Dion+083.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bride and her mother getting ready</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole hair thing with two of the brides sisters</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeFW0J0FA66pTF1MwlDpPvpFkNyjW5MquER5oGBQXaTnVH12zC65A702btW1md8DfITBD8A4kiWePq8t4RSQ3Tbh15LZm_qIRqPWCTSttmBliNDB586tbRf1ADQHzRj44ojgE6leqMto/s1600/Dion+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipeFW0J0FA66pTF1MwlDpPvpFkNyjW5MquER5oGBQXaTnVH12zC65A702btW1md8DfITBD8A4kiWePq8t4RSQ3Tbh15LZm_qIRqPWCTSttmBliNDB586tbRf1ADQHzRj44ojgE6leqMto/s320/Dion+084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brides Best Friend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgRVB_t347fb3BFxZwIBleprT_RFxM4n0q5LiDqUcV7enhSZV3emp80pP467q1EB-l1HI19dloRG_b1hmNIbF4uVvG8UoodO62i_K0m6JaCvMgHR0nh8la6oTqJvPsIlrGvbewCUs9ao/s1600/Dion+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgRVB_t347fb3BFxZwIBleprT_RFxM4n0q5LiDqUcV7enhSZV3emp80pP467q1EB-l1HI19dloRG_b1hmNIbF4uVvG8UoodO62i_K0m6JaCvMgHR0nh8la6oTqJvPsIlrGvbewCUs9ao/s320/Dion+103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magic moment when Emily married Ashley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MOTB with Anne Hathaway lookalike daughter</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Youngest Bridesmaid</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brides Brother and 2nd youngest sister</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A romantic moment</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pensive Bridesmaids</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bride and the Matron of Honour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting the Cake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_45qosm4S02jnw1vg4dxsGZhIwLcozXV7V-N2GIicfMfpT6igXIc-wkwABOu2aB3-rA803S16tD0cQINEuyE0abapz8lQryk0vC7uHNXhNk1GRw9Os5ZeSsoNaWWNhE8HvmrW0SCybZ8/s1600/Dion+124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_45qosm4S02jnw1vg4dxsGZhIwLcozXV7V-N2GIicfMfpT6igXIc-wkwABOu2aB3-rA803S16tD0cQINEuyE0abapz8lQryk0vC7uHNXhNk1GRw9Os5ZeSsoNaWWNhE8HvmrW0SCybZ8/s320/Dion+124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check the hair out.</td></tr>
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<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-76771392170444818762013-05-06T08:22:00.000-07:002013-05-07T17:41:49.960-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: purple;">I cleaned. Semi-willingly. Well under the whipcracking orders of my 12 year old daughter...</span></h2>
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This weekend I cleaned some old software off this bookshelf to make way for my current TBR pile. I was only going to clean off one shelf but No.7 who has Cleaning OCD (not genetic) cleared the whole bookshelf and the desk underneath. It's brown. Who knew.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_A_jabC4U8j1i3DDcagriszR0lTEy2ry9TFHWr6guyQ_nnXg0xVE1GvGN857hDkTdrp5nnieqM16m-cZn3fiBtkX9loCGsntpWf_h0z_TP8Pd8Evo3tXrxel03J_L52yF0bnC14OdTU/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_A_jabC4U8j1i3DDcagriszR0lTEy2ry9TFHWr6guyQ_nnXg0xVE1GvGN857hDkTdrp5nnieqM16m-cZn3fiBtkX9loCGsntpWf_h0z_TP8Pd8Evo3tXrxel03J_L52yF0bnC14OdTU/s640/007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Since then I've been stacking books on the shelves. On the top I've put my medical authors. The next shelf is Urgent TBR's this includes quite a lot of books I've been given as well as some I've bought. The third shelf is my current keeper shelf. Authors that don't belong in my vintage collection though I notice Kate Walker has some books being released in the eBook Vintage Collection. Also on that shelf are my 'research' Sweet Romances and a selection of recent books by authors not yet on my keeper shelf but trending.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a gif so it you watch the pic will change. Yeah I just learned how to do gifs so I'm likely to be boring</td></tr>
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<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-5827660652653922962013-05-03T08:02:00.000-07:002013-05-03T16:33:01.781-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h2>
<a href="http://www.maiseyyates.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_5360-e1344272210536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.maiseyyates.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/MG_5360-e1344272210536.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="color: purple;">I'm a <a href="http://www.maiseyyates.com/" target="_blank">Maisey Yates</a> Fangirl</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="color: purple;">This means that I nag her constantly for new books, stalk her on Twitter and Facebook and anywhere else I can find her. I rejoice when I hear she's signed a 12 book contract because I will have more to read. When I remember how very young she is I am confident that I shall never run out of new books before I die like I did with Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie and Ellis Peters.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16116355-heir-to-a-desert-legacy" target="_blank">Heir to a Desert Legacy</a></span></h3>
<div>
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1356328734l/16116355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Heir to a Desert Legacy" border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1356328734l/16116355.jpg" width="202" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Once again Maisey Yates puts together a tale full of angst and passion to keep you engaged. As the surrogate mother of her half sisters child, Chloe thought she would do her duty by her sister and then step back into the safe anonymity of her academic world. There she could avoid the danger of passion that made her childhood a nightmare.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Sayid, brother of the sheikh, was brought up to be an emotionless machine, designed to fight for his country at all costs. Unfortunately he couldn’t protect his brother and his wife from dying in a car accident on the way to collect their child from Chloe. When he discovers the existence of the child he will do anything to protect the future king.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Drawn into Sayid’s world because of baby Aden, Chloe finds her commitment to a passionless existence threatened by the close proximity of this dark and damaged man. When they marry, to secure Chloe’s place as Aden’s mother it becomes even harder.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">I loved this story and the dance of denial the hero and heroine are involved in. They have both pushed any thought of emotional involvement from their lives but for Chloe, baby Aden has breached the barrier, leaving her vulnerable.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">What happens when these two start to open up to each other is amazing. There is one wow moment that made me fall for Sayid so hard. I just loved the book and the stress on the importance of love and hope for the future.</span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16160133-heir-to-a-dark-inheritance" target="_blank">Heir to a Dark Inheritance.</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359402804l/16160133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="Heir to a Dark Inheritance" border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1359402804l/16160133.jpg" width="202" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Alik is a bad bad man. His only redeeming feature is his loyalty to his friend Sayid, from the companion book Heir to a Desert Legacy. He's not anyone's idea of good husband and father material. But he is, reluctantly, a father.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Widowed Jada has been caring for his child since the death of the mother. All she wants is to be Leena's mother. She's already been a wife and being Alik's wife would only be bearable because of baby Leena.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Watching these two make a convenient marriage is like watching gunpowder in a candle shop. It is a disaster waiting to happen. A disaster full of sizzle and sark.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Somehow Maisey makes it work through the darkest depths to a HEA that is believable at the last.</span><br />
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Being a Fangirl also means you do ridiculous things like find naked dolls in thrift shops and immediately realise that they look just like the hero and heroine in the latest release. Then you take photos and turn them into a gif simply because you can.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Zf9d_CGUAEVJlMNN3d5xA744rO8OGGy76iwKszhrMXK_7nDz0wqwN8QDKBNuhTtPrSXDnfKecG1g9NE2EiHvLPJDg9esDcDHxLXEJejpx_-RWKB1hXUdCUfiUe1cxsWNsTWejmtPvQg/s1600/alikjadakiss.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Zf9d_CGUAEVJlMNN3d5xA744rO8OGGy76iwKszhrMXK_7nDz0wqwN8QDKBNuhTtPrSXDnfKecG1g9NE2EiHvLPJDg9esDcDHxLXEJejpx_-RWKB1hXUdCUfiUe1cxsWNsTWejmtPvQg/s400/alikjadakiss.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alik makes the moves on Jada</td></tr>
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<br />
Finally you become so obsessed with the characters that you write fanfiction where your characters meet their characters.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Alik Fanfic</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The nurse was giggling again. Ruslan quivered with anticipation. He knew what that meant. Squirming against the pillows, he craned his
neck to try and see the door of the pan room.
The other boys in the ward slept on, the drugs doled out at bedtime
doing their job.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruslan probed under his pillows for the tissue wrapped
parcel. Seven of the little blue
sleeping pills, fourteen of the white
ones they gave out for bad pain. Alik
would be pleased.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The noises were reaching a crescendo, the gasps and little
squeaks from the nurse followed by a masculine grunt and then silence. A whisper and a rustle.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The nurse shot back into the ward, smoothing down her
skirt. She always boasted about being engaged to the
other staff, but when Alik came around she tucked her engagement ring in the
pocket of her coat that hung at the nurse’s station. She settled at the desk, carefully not
looking towards Ruslan’s bed. He
wondered exactly what was so special about Alik that she would break hospital
rules to let him in after visiting hours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally Alik sauntered into the room, his dark hair ruffled,
his thumbs hooked into the pockets of his fatigues. He looked older than sixteen, bulky in the
heavy jacket and taller than anyone.
Ruslan wriggled to try and straighten in the bed. One day.
When he’d had his operation. He
would be just like Alik.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Hey Ruslan.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Hello Alik.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘What do you have for me?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Carefully, Ruslan held out the tissue. ‘Seven and fourteen, this time. I’m getting good at it. That trick you showed me works every time.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The older boy counted the pills and slipped them into his
pocket. ‘You did okay kid.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hand came out again with a paper bag. Grinning up at his idol, Ruslan took the
bag. ‘Chocolate?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Da.’ Alik looked
across at the nurse. ‘Three this
time. You’ll need to make them last.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reaching across, Ruslan put the bag on the cupboard. ‘Are you going away again?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘ Maybe.’ That cool,
blue-grey gaze sparked with some emotion.
‘Can you keep a secret kid?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Of course. You know
that.’ He winced as a sharp pain stabbed
at his spine. He shouldn’t have twisted
when he’d moved.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Straight away Alik bent over, studying his face with those
piercing eyes. ‘Are you sure you should
be giving me the painkillers?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘It’s alright. I just
moved wrong. I have my operation
soon. Then I can come and work with
you.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘That’s not going to happen.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘But they promised.’
Ruslan’s heart jumped into his throat.
‘They said I’d be able to walk after the operation.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Sure you will. But
you won’t be working with me.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Why not? You said I
was smart. Just as smart as you.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m not going to be around after tonight.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Are you in trouble?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘No. Not yet. But if I hang around…’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Where will you go?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘That’s a secret. I
don’t want you to have to lie. They
don’t like liars.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruslan blinked hard.
Alik never cried so he wouldn’t cry.
Crying’s for babies. He was
nearly a man, like Alik.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Will I see you again?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m leaving the country.
It won’t be safe for me to come back.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Never?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I don’t know. I’ll
be following the money. That could take
me anywhere.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You could write to me.
I could write back and tell you what’s happening here.’ Alik’s face hardened. Sometimes it was easy to believe the rumours.
Ruslan didn’t want to believe them, but
somehow he just did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Look kid, this was
business. It’s not like we’re
friends. What makes you think I’d be
interested in hearing your problems?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘Not friends?’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘You’re eleven years old and stuck in a hospital. I’ve got better things to do than write
letters to some kid I’m never going to see again.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was a different pain this time. Ruslan preferred the other one. It
didn’t make it hard to breath.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t
understand.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alik shrugged, avoiding his eyes. ‘I’m sorry too, kid. But it was just business.’</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ruslan watched him leave, not sauntering this time. Striding past the nurse with a brisk nod of
dismissal.</div>
Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-59007975395396182802013-04-01T02:23:00.000-07:002013-04-01T03:00:50.807-07:00Are you an Issues Writer? - Sarah M Anderson<br />
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<h2>
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Indigenous Issues and their portrayal.</span></h2>
<h4>
<span style="color: #4c1130;">A look at vintage cinema and the modern romance. A totally random holiday post.</span></h4>
<div>
I'm an American Indian fan from way back though sadly disadvantaged being an Australian. I'm old enough to remember all those movies from the sixties and seventies with John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Glenn Ford, Audie Murphy and so on. I saw all those Spaghetti Westerns with Clint Eastwood and Terrence Hill. I saw <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054047/" target="_blank">The Magnificent Seven</a> and fell in love with James Coburn.</div>
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<a href="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/09/73/63/77/0009736377214_500X500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/09/73/63/77/0009736377214_500X500.jpg" width="200" /></a>I also saw <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066049/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">A Man Called Horse</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065988/?ref_=sr_1" target="_blank">Little Big Man</a>. Along with a relatively unknown school library book "Comanche", a book that was quite graphic despite being targeted at young teens. They made a big impact on me. (I have Googled for the book and all I find is one by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Comanche-Fabio/dp/0380777622" target="_blank">Fabio)</a><br />
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American Indians are perceived as much more romantic than our own indigenous people here in Australia. The most well known movie about an Australian Aborigine made in the seventies was "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077318/" target="_blank">The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith</a>." It is about a part indigenous young man who struggles to cope with his place in the world. Jimmy murdered everyone in such a violent and bloodthirsty manner that half the people in the cinema in Cunnamulla walked out. It probably did nothing for race relations in a town that was 50% indigenous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfFV8m-O3aCQKrp68tLMfhh2RdAIqTspsE2UdDNICHgbjijQfTd_XaUa8xccPTxA6vHYGLlpcEk4JHFqxZ0HTAHNlLZFgT23HIV0B_7LY6rd2p7XInNT9EtUywl8FlUx5D90XuuhbAfw/s1600/jeddaposterlge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfFV8m-O3aCQKrp68tLMfhh2RdAIqTspsE2UdDNICHgbjijQfTd_XaUa8xccPTxA6vHYGLlpcEk4JHFqxZ0HTAHNlLZFgT23HIV0B_7LY6rd2p7XInNT9EtUywl8FlUx5D90XuuhbAfw/s320/jeddaposterlge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Even<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jedda" target="_blank"> "Jedda," </a>a more sympathetic portrayal of a young indigenous woman brought up in a white world, made by Australian film maker Charles Chauvel in 1955, ends badly for the young woman, torn between her attraction to a tradition male and a half-breed who would keep her in the white world. Recently we have movies like <a href="http://www.creativespirits.info/resources/movies/samson-delilah" target="_blank">Samson and Delilah</a> dealing with the alienation of indigenous young people and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0252444/" target="_blank">"Rabbit Proof Fence"</a> is about the stolen generations, when indigenous children were taken from their families to be brought up in white homes and on mission stations.<br />
<br />
So what does all this have to do with Sarah M Anderson. It is probably about a year ago I first read a <a href="http://www.sarahmanderson.com/Sarah_M._Anderson/Welcome.html" target="_blank">Sarah M Anderson</a> book. She writes about Cowboys and Indians with emphasis on the Indians. It is because of this that I would class her as an issues writer. She doesn't beat you over the head with it. The books are primarily about the romance. But you can't help learning a little along the way.<br />
<br />
All of the books I've read by Sarah have American Indians in strong lead roles. Women and men who are dealing with the conflict that comes when one group in society is disadvantaged. That disadvantage can be manifested in many ways, economically, educationally and in most cases, a disparity of power. They also deal with the dichotomy between fitting into the broader society in order to work with the powers that be and maintaining the links to tribe and culture. <br />
<br />
The first book in her new Bolton Brothers series has just been released (what's not to love about men on motorbikes.) This is a <a href="http://hardrockinhomemaker.com/2013/01/23/hot-men-with-motorcycles-cars/" target="_blank">totally gratuitous link</a> to a blog that features hot men & bikes & cars.<br />
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<br />
<h4>
<span style="color: #4c1130;">Straddling the Line by Sarah M Anderson *****</span></h4>
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359402750l/16160124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Straddling the Line" border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359402750l/16160124.jpg" width="202" /></a><br />
<br />
Sarah M. Anderson has written another of her amazing stories about conflict between cultures and the struggle to find who you are when you are literally 'Straddling the Line'. I love it when the title of the book can have multiple meanings and this is one of those.<br />
<br />
Josey White-Plume doesn't know which side of the line she really belongs. She's tried living in the white man's world in New York and it didn't work out. So she's come home to the Reservation to try living in her Lakota world. She is desperate to be accepted as one of the Tribe and is working her darnedest to be the person she thinks will be welcomed. The last thing she needs is to be attracted to Ben Bolton, a numbers cruncher white guy.<br />
<br />
Ben is also struggling to find his place in his own tribe, the Bolton family. He doesn't quite fit, trying to walk the line between his father's old fashioned obsessions and making their motor cycle business viable in the modern world. When Josey walks into his life, wanting help for the school she is helping build on the Reservation she opens his eyes to so much more.<br />
<br />
How these two interact, the relationship they build is just beautiful to see. Josey and Ben are two very different people but they compliment each other in their strengths and weaknesses. They have a lot to teach each other and a lot to learn. Together they are amazing. Together they can straddle the line between two worlds and make it work for both of them.Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-88833304618330280682013-02-07T04:56:00.000-08:002013-02-07T05:26:49.332-08:00Romance Novels - Trash or Treasure.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mills-Boon-Broken-Heart-ebook/dp/B008WW1WJ6/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360243555&sr=1-10&keywords=how+to+mend+a+broken+heart" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="How to Mend a Broken Heart" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343738876l/15779115.jpg" /></a>How many times have you heard Romance Novels dismissed as fluff, lightweight and unrealistic? How many times have you heard the art of Romance writing denigrated as lacking in originality, plot and not real literature? And what about Romance writers. Critics can't seem to make up their mind. They could be wizened spinsters creating unrealistic fantasies or bored housewives trying to inject spice into an otherwise unfulfilled life. On the other hand, critics suggest they could write one of these romance novels in a weekend. After all how hard is it to past a couple of cardboard cut out protagonists into whatever is the current trope and turn out something that will sell? I'd like to see the results of that exercise.<br />
<br />
Just today on Twitter, word got around that a<a href="http://horry.lib.sc.us/locations-carolina-forest-library/" target="_blank"> library</a> in the U.S planned an <a href="https://www.google.com/calendar/render?eid=MDFqNzE4OWkzZGlpZjBvdTlvaXBhOTdjcjggY2VucXFoN3IybzJxODAzcDY2dTlzNHAyNjRAZw&ctz=America/New_York&pli=1&gsessionid=WbYzZrsM5w1NEc_KF5-7ng&sf=true&output=xml" target="_blank">Un-Valentine's Day</a> party where romance covers would be "vandalised" in their words, to decorate the lounge. A library thinks it is a fun thing to vandalise books because they are only Romance novels. I can hardly wait until Halloween when truckloads of Stephen King novels will be similarly trashed. Yeah, I believe that's going to happen.<br />
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There are a lot of things I could say about the general denigration of a genre that accounts for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romance_novel" target="_blank">50-55%</a> of book sales depending on sources. First of all is the implied sneer at all those foolish readers, the majority of whom are women. You must wonder why we were given the vote. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Reluctant-Wife-ebook/dp/B00AQN3WB0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360243419&sr=1-1&keywords=the+reluctant+wife" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Reluctant Wife" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356048120l/17157811.jpg" width="133" /></a>As for the writers. They range from professional women with careers in the medical profession, academia, accountancy, military, film industry, education, publishing and a whole range of other interesting and challenging jobs. And yes some of them are wives and mothers. Some are single, many are married or with partners, some are divorced and widowed. In other words they come from all walks of life with a vast array of life experiences to bring to their writing.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=27308" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="At His Majesty's Request" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347975233l/15803229.jpg" width="126" /></a><span id="goog_1661383757"></span><span id="goog_1661383758"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>Now for the books. Lightweight fluff. I was joking on Twitter the other day that this year seems to be the Year of Endometriosis in Romance. I've read several romances in the last few months that have heroine's dealing with the results of this often debilitating disease. It causes pain, excessive bleeding and can lead to infertility. Not the stuff of happy endings.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mills-Boon-Soldiers-Socialite-ebook/dp/B00AMTL3F0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360243337&sr=1-1&keywords=secrets+of+a+shy+socialite" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Craving Her Soldier's Touch/Secrets of a Shy Socialite" border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352569045l/16140490.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335901160l/13261226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Man Who Saw Her Beauty: The Man Who Saw Her Beauty\The Loner's Guarded Heart" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335901160l/13261226.jpg" /></a>Last year I would have designated as the year of the mastectomy. A whole batch of books that dealt with cancer survivors and the struggle to make a new life and find love after a blow that strikes at the heart of being womanly.<br />
<br />
Other serious issues in books I've read this past year include rape, child abuse, miscarriage, marital abuse, infidelity, loss of a child, loss of a spouse, abandonment, divorce, unexpected pregnancy, surrogacy. The list goes on.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Falling-for-Finn-ebook/dp/B00A2RBEOW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360243286&sr=1-1&keywords=falling+for+finn" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Falling for Finn" border="0" src="http://store.samhainpublishing.com/product_images/FallingForFinn72sm.jpg" /></a>And we haven't even touched on the men in our heroine's lives. In the current climate with war coming so close to home we have heroes with PTSD and serious injuries. And the ever present Alpha male who is an affliction in himself until brought to his knees by the love of a good woman. Nice to read about but how many really want to live with these guys.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bound-By-Her-Ring-ebook/dp/B00B7VP6CS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1360243247&sr=1-1&keywords=bound+by+her+ring+by+nicole+flockton" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Media preview" border="0" height="200" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCgE-wbCYAAuDpd.jpg:large" width="133" /></a>Whatever you think about romance novels, they do not skim over the realities of life. They deal with the things that real women are facing every day in a world that doesn't guarantee a happy ending. But in these books women can find hope and courage and inspiration that no matter how dark things may seem...and on page 143 things can be very dark indeed...it is possible to find a happy ending. And love can mend even the most broken of hearts.<br />
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<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-18533619921202817412012-12-22T06:46:00.000-08:002012-12-23T16:34:48.388-08:00Tis the Season<h3>
It's that time of year again.</h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In our house that means checking all the bunks have fresh sheets for the influx of family. This year we will have all seven children in the house plus a ring-in attached to No. 5. No.2's f<span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;">iancé is missing in action, spending Christmas with his family as his parents are just back from touring the country. Seriously you don't need an occasion when the whole family is together to have a party, but these days with No.1 in Berlin more often than not, and Nos. 2, 3 and 5 living in Brisbane, it isn't that common to have everyone in one place.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://janetgover.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hugh-Jackman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://janetgover.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Hugh-Jackman.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://media.onsugar.com/files/2011/01/04/1/944/9444022/70abf3fc6950f8a7_The_Holiday_3_Jude_Law.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://media.onsugar.com/files/2011/01/04/1/944/9444022/70abf3fc6950f8a7_The_Holiday_3_Jude_Law.jpg" width="170" /></a><span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I will probably dig out some favourite Christmas movies, "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Love Actually" and this year I'm thinking of watching "The Holiday" for a little romance with a seasonal touch. Speaking of Jude Law...</span></span><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 18px;"> No.7 and I went to see "Rise of the Guardians" at the cinema in the neighbouring town of Warwick. Jude Law is the voice of Pitch Black aka The Boogyman. Is there a reason why a British voice does evil villain so very well? No. 7 thought it was the best Christmas movie she'd seen. It had humour, pathos and lots of good will and a hot Australian bunny voiced by Hugh Jackman. What more could you ask for?</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 18px;">Still on the subject of Hugh Jackman, I hope to see Les Miserables in the New Year. I've managed to avoid reading the book and the 'serious' movies for years. Surely with music and singing it wont be depressing. Nos. 4, 6 & 7 are coming with me to see The Hobbit in 3D at a Vmax cinema in Brisbane on Boxing Day as a special treat.</span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Christmas reading. So far I've read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Wishes-novella-ebook/dp/B00A1UEBGS" target="_blank">Christmas Wishes</a> by Rhian Cahill, a spicy little short set in Australia. Another Australian Writer with a historical in an English setting is Anna Campbell with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Winter-Wife-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00AFYH7A2" target="_blank">The Winter Wife</a> which is a nice little reunion Novella. I also read and enjoyed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mills-Boon-Newborn-Christmas-ebook/dp/B00A9L8SNG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356216214&sr=1-1&keywords=newborn+baby+for+christmas" target="_blank">Newborn Baby for Christmas</a> by Fiona Lowe, set in Australia too. On my Christmas TBR I have a duet by Sarah Morgan <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mills-Boon-Christmas-Marriage-ebook/dp/B009PATFFC/ref=sr_1_9?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356183694&sr=1-9&keywords=wish+upon+a+star" target="_blank">Wish Upon a Star</a> and a trilogy of linked stories, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mills-Boon-Christmas-Billionaire-ebook/dp/B00A9L8PL6/ref=sr_1_13?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356183740&sr=1-13&keywords=A+christmas+letter" target="_blank">A Christmas Letter</a> by authors Fiona Harper, Donna Alward and Shirley Jump. Intriguing because each of the authors comes from a different country so I'm looking forward to seeing if there are any notable differences considering they are all snowy northern hemisphere stories.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I am in big trouble because I forgot the <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16162799-baby-it-s-cold-outside" target="_blank">Baby It's Cold Outside Anthology</a> which I read a while ago. It's a terrific read from four of my favourite sizzling hot Harlequin Mills & Boon authors, Amy Andrews, Heidi Rice, Aimee Carson and Kate Hardy. Sorry girls. Don't know how I could forget those totally Hot guys. Maybe it was jealousy, maybe I was blocking them from my mind. Maybe I drank too much Bailey's...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Seasons Greetings</i></span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl17OLG9JWC2zBVNwQUCDwxB0zPjHMRycctrV9yvUVLRFwEe_wdm_A_kWH0RQwnd9TNvBGGwNJAKXwjTyKKQDSx_xUCx3rgqSGmtJpllgr7D3JDaSsVTSRuoQhQjWYwlrjZlsO2c2qIQ/s1600/Christmas+Card+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl17OLG9JWC2zBVNwQUCDwxB0zPjHMRycctrV9yvUVLRFwEe_wdm_A_kWH0RQwnd9TNvBGGwNJAKXwjTyKKQDSx_xUCx3rgqSGmtJpllgr7D3JDaSsVTSRuoQhQjWYwlrjZlsO2c2qIQ/s640/Christmas+Card+2012.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">This is the picture we used on our Christmas Card this year created by No.6</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">DH and myself as Mr and Mrs Claus and the elves from left to right are as follows.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">No. 4, No. 6, No. 1, No. 5, No.2, No. 3 and on the floor is baby elf No.7</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">To finish off, I'll include the 1k short I wrote for the latest Seasonal Themed Writers Challenge on the Harlequin boards. </span></span><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 18px;">It's a matched set with my other reunion short.</span><span style="color: #3d3d3d; line-height: 18px;"> It didn't win so by all means finish reading here. </span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">A big thank you to all those people who have read my blog over the year.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #3d3d3d;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UxadJnQuUAJJBc93nZ-pAUJPefT_0FjexJryLE1CXd6IkmcAZkWr2dzkcutLA6EukbW8YX3D2F00CBoYfvdWkrSVKkNzz_A6caDJqBEarZi9avAZPBz2LkPbPedfli35rC2FO7ryO3U/s1600/books+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_UxadJnQuUAJJBc93nZ-pAUJPefT_0FjexJryLE1CXd6IkmcAZkWr2dzkcutLA6EukbW8YX3D2F00CBoYfvdWkrSVKkNzz_A6caDJqBEarZi9avAZPBz2LkPbPedfli35rC2FO7ryO3U/s320/books+002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Tis the
Season <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The ice clinked and settled, melting slowly
in the heat of a late December evening.
Dipping one finger into the glass, Jess swirled the frozen lumps into a
whirlpool. Her mother always said
drinking alone was a bad sign. As usual
she was right. Annoying woman. She’d been right about everything even til
the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘This is my time, Jessica.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘That’s just stupid Mum. You’re only fifty-four.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Not that she looked it. Years of fighting for her life, the chemo,
the surgeries, the pain. She looked
old. And tired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘They’ve been fifty-four good years, in spite
of losing your father so young. Don’t
hold on Jessica. You’ve your own life to
live.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Maybe mum hadn’t known everything. Not that it was her fault. Oliver still turned up to visit the hospice
regularly. Pretended all was well
between them. He’d moved out a couple of
months before the funeral. That
beautiful spring day at the cemetery was the last time she’d seen him. Doing his duty, standing beside her through
the Church Service and at the interment.
His grave expression suited his long patrician good looks. Cool grey eyes mocked her gently when she had
to beg a handkerchief. She never could
remember to bring her own. Right to the
end he did everything expected. Holding
her hand, his long elegant fingers threaded through her small slender
ones. Even letting her bury her face in
his shoulder to dampen his dark, well cut suit with her tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Right until the end when everyone had gone
home and just the two of them remained.
Embarrassed by the memory of how she clung during the service, she’d
withdrawn from him, uncertain about his mood.
He stood silent, watchful, his thumbs hooked into the waistband of his
trousers. At some point he’d loosened
his tie and run his fingers through the pale blond hair giving him a faintly
disreputable air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Thank you for all your support, Oliver. I appreciated you being here.’ He didn’t answer, just stood there
expectantly. ‘Well, I suppose this is
goodbye.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Is it, Jess?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You won’t need to come around any more now
Mum’s gone.’ That tell tale nerve in his
jaw pulsed. He probably couldn’t wait to
get away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘True.
I suppose there’s no other reason for us to see each other.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">That hurt.
Hearing him say it finally.
Cautiously, Jess extended her hand.
‘Friends?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A strange silver glint showed in his
eyes. ‘Friends? I don’t think so, Jess.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Scrubbing her face, Jess frowned at a brightly clad Santa on a
Christmas card. ‘There’s no need to
stare, haven’t you seen anyone drunk before?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">He didn’t respond, his jolly red-flushed face
indicated he’d probably been into the Bailey’s too. Bailey’s on ice. She giggled.
Bailey’s on a snow cone at the North Pole. Not sweltering in the heat of an Australian
summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">She could hear bells ringing. Santa’s sleigh no doubt. He’d have a hard time getting down the narrow
flu of this fireplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A figure swam into view. Not dressed in red. Not Santa then. ‘What happened? Couldn’t Santa make it? Fancy sending Frosty the Snowman instead.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You’ve been drinking.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Clever, clever Snowman. Do you think your icicle heart will melt in
the heat?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I don’t have a heart remember. You told me I came fully formed in solid
marble.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Marble.
Cold hard marble. I remember
now.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The tears came, trickling beside her
nose. He’d liked her nose once upon a
time. Liked the freckles, the ginger curls, even the muddy hazel brown
eyes. Liked the fact she was only as tall
as his heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I’d forgotten what a maudlin drunk you
were.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I’m not mor…maudlin. I’m just tired. I’ve been working right up til this evening.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Saving the world from silence at the music
store.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Music is very shmoozing. Soothing.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I think it’s time for bed, Jess.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Didn’t you bring me a Christmas present?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I did, but I don’t think you’re in any
condition to receive it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The world spun as strong arms scooped her up. ‘Marble, cold hard marble.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Daylight illumined the sleeping figure, the
milky skin with the smattering of freckles on shoulder and nose. The kissable lips, the lush curve of… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Oliver?
What are you doing here?’ She
pulled the sheet up, hiding the tantalising curves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Sleeping.
What one usually does in bed.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Not this bed.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Why not?
This is the marital bed and we are married.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You left.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">His chest tightened painfully at the memories. ‘You threw me out.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘No I didn’t.
Did I?’ Her forehead creased in a
frown. ‘Did I?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I certainly understood “Get out and stay
out” to have that meaning.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I didn’t mean it. I was upset.’
She struggled into a sitting position holding the sheet across her
chest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Not surprising. It is upsetting when your exceedingly
heartless husband demands sex of you now and then. But I think you did mean it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘My mother was dying.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘And in my purely selfish male way I thought
I was offering you comfort. I was wrong
apparently.’ </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He could see her eyes studying him.</span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">So much hinged on her response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #333333; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘No you weren’t wrong, Oliver. I just wasn’t prepared to see it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You could have just told me you weren’t in
the mood.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You said I was immature and needed to grow
up.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I cared about your mother too. You never gave me credit for that, Jess. You were hurting but so was I. You were slipping away from me. Every day you seemed more distant. It’s hard to be shut out.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I didn’t know I was doing it.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘I know.
And every time I pushed, you just retreated more. So when you told me to go, I went.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Why are you back?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘Christmas is the Season for Peace and
Goodwill to all men. I was hoping for a
little of that to come my way.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #FAFAFA; color: #333333; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">‘You want to come home?’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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intertwined with his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span>Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-27046264705602370012012-10-12T03:31:00.000-07:002012-10-12T03:31:16.605-07:00The Ghettoisation of the Medical Romance<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">Where have all the Doctors Gone...</span></h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5kTdR1m1hMCvVv8yZIsto_-5ohKZg9KDnQZvDu94Fc8e6zu-D91yaGrpsX7knIY_D6jhiloNlJruNs5RVXcp8YhGHQ8Xhi-cauLcvUjk80cpV2DlTDag_HQ7dUvFkCgqTBHZkUF9A1M/s1600/Nurse-Holland-Betty-Neels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA5kTdR1m1hMCvVv8yZIsto_-5ohKZg9KDnQZvDu94Fc8e6zu-D91yaGrpsX7knIY_D6jhiloNlJruNs5RVXcp8YhGHQ8Xhi-cauLcvUjk80cpV2DlTDag_HQ7dUvFkCgqTBHZkUF9A1M/s1600/Nurse-Holland-Betty-Neels.jpg" /></a><span style="color: blue;">I used to read doctor and nurse romances all the time. But I have hardly touched a "Medical" romance for years. I've recently started reading them again after discovering some authors that really captured my imagination. But I am still reluctant at times to pick up a "Medical" off the shelf.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkWl7aMSCRQZ62Df1UR51p-ZpM74n5ooSUyCTAfHoa7VsWVH7zzCC_Wixc2xHugereBLDhksXFVyHo-AU4A7xh8jyHgQ9hd79TkulO3GIrFuwgf8zjd0PGfOiOPNsTfgwO7ezuYGp2x8/s1600/Doctor-Overboard-Airlie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkWl7aMSCRQZ62Df1UR51p-ZpM74n5ooSUyCTAfHoa7VsWVH7zzCC_Wixc2xHugereBLDhksXFVyHo-AU4A7xh8jyHgQ9hd79TkulO3GIrFuwgf8zjd0PGfOiOPNsTfgwO7ezuYGp2x8/s1600/Doctor-Overboard-Airlie.jpg" /></a><span style="color: blue;">I spent a few minutes rummaging through my vintage Harlequin Mills & Boon romances this afternoon looking for a quick read. After the intensity of the voting section of the So You Think You Can Write competition and late nights trying to Mr Sheen my manuscript into a pristine polished condition, I needed a break.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">The selection I picked out as possibilities included books by Jean S. Macleod and Jane Arbor who were mainstream romance writers. All of the books are standard Harlequin Romances, all of them included nurses and doctors. Of course there are authors who are known for Doctor/Nurse romances like Betty Neels, Lilian Chisholm, Marguerite Lees, Vivian Stuart and Juliet Armstrong.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5F8GOGKT8gr_x9VpsHdF7ZDoswyJDCZ0p8SerrmzJr8hcNA4jaOE86R8uFQQadIWJ8HahZ-ZuOzx7Jb5WtYw6nuMr-BP2NvqaA4_a1D7DGt1c88dMwxR_6lLzWseNdqQsvxWMo9wvC8/s1600/Doctors-Daughter-Anne-Weale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5F8GOGKT8gr_x9VpsHdF7ZDoswyJDCZ0p8SerrmzJr8hcNA4jaOE86R8uFQQadIWJ8HahZ-ZuOzx7Jb5WtYw6nuMr-BP2NvqaA4_a1D7DGt1c88dMwxR_6lLzWseNdqQsvxWMo9wvC8/s1600/Doctors-Daughter-Anne-Weale.jpg" /></a><span style="color: blue;">I've been puzzling about this for some time for a number of reasons. One is that the manuscript I submitted to the competition features a surgeon as the hero. I happen to like writing romances about professional men. Doctors, Lawyers, Architects and so on. This particular story, and all the others I am working on with doctor's and nurses, don't fit the current "Medical" category because the guidelines stipulate that both the hero and heroine must be professionals working together in a medical environment of some kind. My doctors have a fancy for glamorous models, and artists and my nurse is tangled up with a lawyer.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">There is also a discussion on the Harlequin boards on "Medical" romance that bemoans the lack of broader distribution of the line. Apparently they are not available in store fronts in the U.S. though they are here in Australia. Then there is the fact that only eight people submitted a manuscript to the SYTYCW competition under the "Medical" imprint. So is there a problem? And does it lie in the extremely rigid guidelines about what comprises a "Medical" romance.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0Ao3PszZuM8Bcsn2hwmlfgDGsoi4kZG_oLr89jynTkCW-QXSU7RwqoFy4rX9S81eYPVR9EX6fz8hnhvuCNjRYpBbOCptbTN-iBoI0arB4kvFECPfdXCaY2iXx7X15Rls-PN5yJDvGow/s1600/greekbillionaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0Ao3PszZuM8Bcsn2hwmlfgDGsoi4kZG_oLr89jynTkCW-QXSU7RwqoFy4rX9S81eYPVR9EX6fz8hnhvuCNjRYpBbOCptbTN-iBoI0arB4kvFECPfdXCaY2iXx7X15Rls-PN5yJDvGow/s200/greekbillionaire.jpg" width="126" /></a><span style="color: blue;">The difference? Why do I relish reading these vintage authors and their doctors and nurses and yet hesitate to read the more specific "Medical" category? Perhaps because "Medical" category romance takes itself so seriously. If I buy one of these modern Doctor/Nurse romances, I will almost invariably be seeing my hero and heroine interact in a medical environment. It's certainly a great way to throw them together and offers some interesting and occasionally heartbreaking story lines. But it's all a bit intense and to a former nurse (of the very lowest, bottom of the rung kind) it's also a bit like work. Every...single...time.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijITU9hGg9ymKnevuKqVDcQtJ1VohiuCs6TEn1L230b7dcwVeqzdSvEnWnS4DeYbMZkhbDLndBST7aZY3d68yWiCWlya4kWFyS5GZ5M0nn5V6bIIF_NqI83DbZeRfCFDxglOPBhekwoFs/s1600/notsosecretscandal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijITU9hGg9ymKnevuKqVDcQtJ1VohiuCs6TEn1L230b7dcwVeqzdSvEnWnS4DeYbMZkhbDLndBST7aZY3d68yWiCWlya4kWFyS5GZ5M0nn5V6bIIF_NqI83DbZeRfCFDxglOPBhekwoFs/s200/notsosecretscandal.jpg" width="126" /></a><span style="color: blue;">Not that I don't enjoy the occasional visit to a hospital. Though in real life I don't want to stay there! And the writing is amazing. The quality of the "Medical" stable is high and includes some of my mainstream favourite authors like Sarah Morgan, Kate Hardy and Olivia Gates from the Desire line. There are exciting things happening in the "Medical" with some of the new authors really stretching the boundaries. I mean that mostly in a good way <G>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1343738876l/15779115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Mend a Broken Heart" border="0" height="200" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1343738876l/15779115.jpg" width="123" /></a><span style="color: blue;">But if there is an attitude to "Medical" romance that keeps it marginalised, all this will go unnoticed and unappreciated by the general populace of romance readers. While I can appreciate the Harlequin Mills & Boon dedication to the promise they make to readers to give them what they want and expect, perhaps it can be carried to </span><span style="color: blue;">extremes. In the case of Doctor/Nurse romances, perhaps they have made their promise too narrow, too c</span><span style="color: blue;">onfined.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">I notice that the new KISS Riva lines promise an arc from mild and sweet to hot and sexy but with an overall promise of alpha males and a flirty modern take. Wouldn't it be nice if there could be a similar arc with Doctor/Nurse romances so that people who find too much hospital and medical jargon off-putting could ease into it gently while still enjoying the pleasures of McSteamy and McDreamy. And maybe there could be more Tulips and Manorial homes, more cruises to exotic destinations, and maybe doctors and nurses could marry outside the profession. Maybe they could marry artists and models and lawyers and billionaires and princes that don't coincidentally happen to be doctors as well.</span><br />
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<br />Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909499415024110876.post-4679020969690689302012-10-11T04:55:00.002-07:002012-10-11T04:55:29.611-07:00Warning<br />
<a href="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/192170000/192173122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Devil and the Deep" border="0" height="320" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/192170000/192173122.JPG" width="202" /></a><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>The Devil and The Deep by Amy Andrews *****</b></span><br />
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This book should come with a WARNING. Do NOT choose this book to read while sitting at the bedside of a dying relative. You will make enemies when you glare at the nursing staff for interrupting you. Because you will not want to put this book down. This book also has really sizzling love scenes, so it is not the book to read in the presence of your Mother-in-Law. Even if she is in a coma and will not notice your heavy breathing and hot flushes.<br />
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Seriously this book has some wow factor. I always loved those old musicals in which there was a story within a story. This book has a story within a story that will have you running to the fridge for an Icepack.<br />
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The heroine Stella Mills is a best selling author of a historical romance featuring a pirate so hot he would turn the seven seas into a steamy desert when he captures Lady Mary Bingham and seduces her. The funny thing is that Vasco Ramirez is based on Stella's real life childhood friend Rick Granville who would never be interested in doing any of those interesting things to Lady Mary's alter ego, the real life Stella Mills. Or would he?<br />
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The long time friendship between Stella and Rick is sorely tested when her father leaves them a treasure map in his will, sending them on a Treasure Hunt together. Or is it a Pleasure Hunt? Rick is a hero to die for, though early in the book when he displayed his flirty technique with OTHER women I was ready to clip him under the ear. But once he got going, he had me under his spell like the rest of those poor bemused women. I thought I knew better but apparently I'm a sucker for a gorgeous guy with a nice line in flirty charm.<br />
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Stella is a wonderful heroine. In spite of her denials, it's obvious that Rick was always the one for her from the time she was ten years old. Even her ex is so opposite to Rick you can see how hard she was running. But her book gives her away every time. So imagine what might happen if Rick should get hold of it. Lucky a macho seagoing treasure hunter isn't likely to read a romance novel.<br />
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If you've read Amy's recent books Taming the Tycoon and How to Mend a Broken Heart, you wont expect this. Just as they are entirely different, this is different again. It has the wit and humour of Taming the Tycoon but the added vibe of a rollicking sea going adventure and don't forget that sizzling hot historical pirate. Amy's heroes and heroines are so incredibly real you have this sneaking feeling you've met them somewhere. They aren't perfect but they are likeable as well as loveable. If you are after a feel good read that still packs a punch emotionally and with nicely graded sizzle on every page, this is the book for you.Fiona Marsdenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00483455541888759566noreply@blogger.com0