Bitchin' Blog Posts
May 05, 2012 | Saturday at 6:31 am | 7 Comments
Dee wrote in looking for two books from her sister's stash of Harlequins:
I was inspired by the success of others at finding their first-read, life-changing romances, to ask about mine. These were gleaned from rummaging through my oldest sister's boxes after she had moved away to go to university.
They were definitely 80s Harlequin or perhaps could be Silhouette, either way they were old. Young and impressionable as I was, even then I remember feeling a little scornful of both heroines, who seemed like they needed the hero's love or lovin to become "the person they were meant to be."
anyways. The first one is the typical story of the jock and the nerd. The hero is a sports star at the college they both attend and the heroine is a literature or history major. I remember resenting the fact that she was made out to be a nerdy lit major because even then I knew that all lit majors weren't nerds. I can't remember how they end up meeting or even having a relationship, but they do. Then something happens…
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May 05, 2012 | Saturday at 12:18 am | 17 Comments
Emily wrote in with a request for her friend, S. (Not me! I swear! I've never bought a book at Heathrow, even if my reading history is one big HaBO):
I'm hoping this awesome site and its readers might Help a Bitch Out. There's a book I'm dying to read, as described to me by my friend S. She's been looking for it for a reread lo these many years, and this is her description:
"I bought it in Heathrow Airport in 1988. It had a white cover with pink and silver lettering. An English upper-class daughter of a mine executive dabbles in socialist causes, and falls in love with a rough-but-charming miner. The hero has bigger dreams than mining, but went down the mines to save his family and is now part of a big countrywide coal strike."
"The heroine's father (the mine executive) was standard-issue Evil: oppressive, misogynist, etc.
The book was set in the teens or '20s of the twentieth century, around the time of the national coal strike in England. There was some suffragette background stuff.…
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Event | 2 Comments
Event Date: June 09, 2012
Event Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
I'm speaking at the Virginia Romance Writers chapter meeting on 9 June 2012. The meeting begins at 10am, and I'll be speaking before lunch. They meet at the Twin Hickory Library, and I will be looking for twin hickory trees,…
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May 04, 2012 | Friday at 2:44 pm | 86 Comments
So, what are you reading this week? Are you saving a book for the weekend? Still working on something you've been reading for awhile or is it New Book Time?
I had to stop myself from reading four or five books at a time - which is bad not only for my memory ("Wait, aren't there biker gangs in this Regency romance? Where'd they go?") but also bad for my ability to remain interested in all of the books. Making a buffet of books is not a good thing for me, though I know some readers can do it easily!
So, what is on your reading agenda this weekend?
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May 04, 2012 | Friday at 4:32 am | 6 Comments
From Gry comes this amazing animated song about Georgia - the country, not the state.
Link!
I hope everything you read this weekend takes you to amazing faraway places.
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May 03, 2012 | Thursday at 3:30 pm | 46 Comments
First, from Rebecca, this is a fascinating article that profiles Claire Brown, who designs covers for romance novels from Forever.
I love this article because it's not condescending or snide- it talks about the art involved.
The design of the romance genre is driven by sales, but the formula works. “There are constraints in how much we can deviate without alienating the reader,” Brown says. “Familiarity in typeface and painterly style reassures the reader that this book is what you think it is going to be, and you are going to love it. “With that said, there are an infinite number of design problems that need to be solved within the constraints of a romance cover. The canvas is very small and the typography and setting are grand. A knowledge of history and classical art, architecture, and furnishings is important. We have a library of classical art books, contemporary high fashion, architecture, and interior design. I take field trips to the Met for inspiration.
And speaking of the art involved, check this weirdness. I am on the mailing list for…
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May 03, 2012 | Thursday at 3:00 pm | 13 Comments
This review was submitted by Qualisign, and get ready, for it is majestic. This novella was nominated in the Romance Novella category.
The summary: Dr. Grace Hunter seeks an ancient text beneath the castle of Count Alessandro Volta.
The reclusive count wasn't expecting scientist Grace to be a beautiful woman who stirs his scarred soul. Outside, a media storm is brewing, but inside the count's world the heat between them is sizzling!
And now, Qualisign's review:
Alternate title cum synopsis: “How a scar(r)y Count Count was possessed by the Cookie Monster only to be exorcized by a fame-seeking scientifically-minded Sunshine Bear with scraped-back hair” Seriously. This was horrible. And I paid for it – just so that I could review it for SBTB. AAARRRGGGHHH! It has such promise: a long-lost manuscript containing healing secrets-of-the-ages, a PhD-carrying-manuscript-curator of a heroine, a wounded hero with a title and a castle on an island with secret tunnels, caves and wicked storms. It was SO good – until I…
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May 03, 2012 | Thursday at 3:37 am | 43 Comments
I've received a few email requests for erotic content similar to 50 Shades of Grey [GR | A | BN | S | K | ARe] and a few bazillion Google searches for '50 shades synopsis' and '50 shades review' and, my personal favorite, '50 shades free download.' Heh. Good luck with that last one.
This week at Kirkus I talked about the erotic romance that might appeal to those who enjoyed 50 Shades of Grey, from titles with BDSM to explicit sex (and strong heroines, hooray!) and shorter works of erotic fiction. People are still reading and finishing the book, and a few are looking for something like it.
The problem is, it can be difficult to figure out what it was about a book that contained so many major romance and erotica tropes that you liked specifically so you can go find more of it. Was it the BDSM? Was it the first person POV? Was it the sexual tension? It's probably a different answer for each reader. There are several great recommendation threads, including one at DearAuthor, but one email this past week caught my attention:
…
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May 02, 2012 | Wednesday at 4:26 pm | 11 Comments
This RITA Reader Challenge review comes from Silver James. This book is nominated in the Romantic Suspense category.
The summary: The number-one New York Times-bestselling author J. D. Robb presents an intense and terrifying new case for New York homicide cop Eve Dallas, one that will take her all the way to the city that gave her her name-and plunge her into the nightmares of her childhood.
When a monster named Isaac McQueen-taken down by Eve back in her uniform days-escapes from Rikers, he has two things in mind. One is to pick up where he left off, abducting young victims and leaving them scarred in both mind and body. The other is to get revenge on the woman who stopped him all those years ago.
Normally I'd post reviews books that haven't been mentioned yet, but Silver's review really spoke to me and I wanted to share it. Here is Silver's review:
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May 02, 2012 | Wednesday at 11:38 am | 2 Comments
HarperCollins is putting all kinds of backlist on sale. Johanna Lindsey is still on sale, and now Elizabeth Boyle's backlist is discounted to $4.99.
Mrs. Robinson's Disgrace: The Private Diary of a Victorian Lady by Kate Summerscale * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S | It Takes a Hero by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S No Marriage of Convenience by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S | ARe Tempted by the Night by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S | ARe One Night of Passion by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S | ARe His Mistress by Morning by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S | ARe Once Tempted by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S | ARe Stealing the Bride by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S | ARe Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by Elizabeth Boyle * $4.99 * A | BN | K…
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May 02, 2012 | Wednesday at 12:52 am | 55 Comments
Contining the theme of Book Rants, books that really, REALLY pissed a reader off, I bring you Leslie, who picked up a re-issue of a book originally published in the 80s, and found it to be jaw-dropping horrible angry-making. Sometimes it's the nonsensical plots, and other times, it's sexism, racism, stereotypes, and complete asshattery. When a romance lets a reader down, the result can be epic.
Book: The Bronzed Hawk by Iris Johansen Originally published: 1983, Bantam Loveswept Reprint edition: 2011, Bantam Loveswept
And now: here's Leslie. Grab a drink and settle in, y'all.
Iris Johansen wrote the second historical romance novel I ever read – The Magnificent Rogue [Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Sony | Kobo | All Romance eBooks]. And I freaking love that book. Love that book, like, its permanent home is on my nightstand. Other than my Kindle free downloads, my other favorite place to find books is browsing the library shelves. And when I saw what I figured was a reissued contemporary romance by Johansen, I WAS SO EXCITED! Something just clicked (because other than her…
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May 01, 2012 | Tuesday at 11:36 am | 6 Comments
Thank you to everyone who entered the Under a Vampire Moon giveaway - now I want to spend a lot of hours on the beach, which isn't happening to day at all, since it's miserably rainy outside.
The grand prize winner is: April McGlamery! April wins a Baggalini roller carry on stuffed with Lynsay Sands' Argeneau backlist - a total of 16 books!
The winners of Under a Vampire Moon ( A | BN | K | S ) and a Lynsay Sands beach ball are:
Jessica D.
Lavonne Page
Elizabeth JoAnn Parker
Fran
Annie Q.
Winners, please email me at sarahATsmartbitchestrashybooksDOTcom with your address so we can send your prizes out. Congratulations!
And thank you to everyone who entered - and to Avon Books for giving me one more carry-on bag to add to my "I don't have enough luggage" wishlist, and a list of beaches to visit. Who's with me?
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May 01, 2012 | Tuesday at 12:00 am | 154 Comments
I enjoyed May's book club pick so much, I wanted to hit people with it so they'd read it. That's effective persuasion, right? Of course it is.
The May Sizzling Book Club pick is: The Long Shot, by Ellen Hartman. Here's the plot summary:
Deacon Fallon has made something of himself. Yeah, it wasn't easy becoming a successful—now retired—pro basketball player, but he did it. In the process, he made his brother's life better. That's always been Deacon's goal.
This latest effort to help, however, may push Deacon too far. He's been roped into coaching the high school girls' team! Worse, there's a little offside action brewing between him and his hot assistant coach, Julia Bradley. Definitely not in his plans, but he can't resist her. And for the first time, Deacon wants something that has nothing to do with his brother and everything to do with Julia!
Girls high school basketball! Coaching! Returning home!…
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April 30, 2012 | Monday at 3:08 pm | 180 Comments
This guest entry from CarrieS is in honor of Charlotte Bronte's birthday, which was last weekend, 21 April.
OK, Bitches, this is it. In honor of Charlotte Brontë's birthday (April 21, 1816), it's time to fulfill my long-time goal of establishing what I believe may be a universal truth:
You cannot passionately, deeply, own-multiple-copies-of, take-to-a-desert-island-as-your-one-book, love both Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Love one, hate the other. That's the deal. You may appreciate the quality of the writing in both books and their historical significance, but on a visceral level you will love only one.
How have I come to this conclusion? Well, to start with, I currently own at least three copies of Jane Eyre, one of which is wrapped in plastic and stored with my earthquake survival kit (along with a copy of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, in case you're wondering.). Jane is my role model, my friend, my faithful companion and guiding light. On the other hand, I've read Wuthering Heights three times out of a perverse sense of duty to Literature, and I…
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April 30, 2012 | Monday at 12:51 am | 24 Comments
At Romantic Times, I sat next to Jodi Thomas on the contemporary romance panel I wrote about earlier, and because I'm horrible, I got all up in her business about her position as Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University.
A romance author as a writer in residence? That's awesome! Thomas is only the second writer to fill the post. Prior to Thomas, the writer in residence was Loula Grace Erdman, who wrote novels about the settlement of the Texas Panhandle.
I thought the idea of a romance author serving as writer in residence was very cool, so I asked Ms. Thomas if she'd put up with all sorts of nosy questions. Fortunately for me, she agreed, and I think this is a wonderfully inspiring interview.
Let's start with basic questions: How long have you been the writer in residence?
10 years
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