Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

i can has georgian kick ass womminz plz??

I love bawdy, crazy ladies- in any era.
Sign me up for the give-away please!!!

seeing as i was going to look into acquiring those books based off the review, it only makes sense to try and take advantage of an opportunity for free stuff. huzzah!

I’m in! These sound like great reads - sort of the fast, fictionalized Georgiana of Devonshire.

You know those women who are friends with scads of men but not so many women?

Heh. I am those women. Now if only I had two coins to rub together, some political clout and a really big gun…

Would Georgina be considered an anti-heroine, that DA was pondering not too long ago? hmmm…I’d like me some anti-heroine. plsktks.

me me me me me!!!  I haven’t read a good Regency in AGES…and I’m a sucker for a well-drawn character.  (I’m also a throwback to the ‘virgins are fun’ school of Regency, so if nothing else, this could convert me:-)

How refreshing, to have a little switcheroo of the hero and heroine’s positions.  I’m a bit tired of the demure heroine and the rakish hero.  Bring on the scandalous widows!

Ooh these sound fabulous.  I’m on a bit of a historical kick at the moment as it is (and finding I don’t have nearly as many of them as I thought!).  If winning don’t work, Amazon will have to…

And Kirsten, I’m one of those women too.  Girls don’t like me.  Who cares?  Men buy me drinks.

Me me me me me too!!! I’m always game for a new book that someone tells me kicks righteous ass..
the tiresome wilting regency heroine is outdated. Sounds like George says she’ll do it her way or get the hell out of her way..

Oooh, I love a good hunting party scenario.  Although I always end up thinking of this: Monty Python Hunting Sketch

I started Lord Sin a while ago and never finished it because there were so many other books out there I wanted to read. I was liking it, but (as of however far I made it) wasn’t blown away. But now you’ve inspired me to dig it up again to find out what I am missing. Darn you…

Oooh, I’m in, this sounds interesting and I’m just getting back into reading regency.

*Squee* I can haz review!

I’m one of “those women” too. My nickname at the local coffee shop is “the chick who’s a dude” due to my showing up most Saturdays in motorcycle leathers and hanging out with all the biker boys.

Kate: I totally had the Duchess of Devonshire in the back of my head (mix with a bit of Sophy from The Grand Sophy, Lady Babs from An Infamous Army, and Serena from Bath Tangle and SHAKE). Those are among my favorite heroines of all time.

Randi: I do think George is a bit of an anti-heroine (as discussed on DA), but I wasn’t about to pop off and mention my own book there. That always seems a bit too . . . too . . . you know what I mean.

BTW, if anyone wants a freebie, I’m giving away a short story on my website:

Something Wicked:  A Rakes of London Short

SCANDAL IS IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID . . .
Eleanor Blakely is only too aware that her reputation dangles by a very slender thread. One false step, one mistake, and the entire world will know the secret her family has struggled to keep hidden. Unfortunately, she’s found herself in the midst of a desperate series of wagers with a consummate charmer . . .

AND EVEN HARDER TO RESIST . . .
Viscount Wroxton isn’t exactly sure what twist of fate has kept his friend Blakely’s sister on the shelf, but the inveterate little gamester is too fascinating to ignore. The fact that she has five enormous—and protective—brothers is hardly worth thinking about . . .

Oh, man, I’ve been wanting to read these books for what seems like forever - and my library is being pesky-slow about getting them for me!

So, the heroine is a “duchess of slut?” Oh wee about time I says!!

Pick me, pick me!  I’m always looking for something new and different.

You know those women who are friends with scads of men but not so many women?

Hi! Except as I generally explain, I’m the Janeane Garofalo of the group - one of the guys, never thought of as anything other than. Gets damned frustrating - perhaps I need a Georges to show me my mistakes. *snort*

(And I’m game for a random drawing, since the first romance I read…er..last week.. was a regency era, and I genuinely enjoyed it. And besides, it’d be a nice offset to all the Deep and Serious academic books I should really be reading, instead of flitting about the internet…)

Sounds like a fabulous character.  I’ll be on the lookout for these, even if I’m not lucky enough to get one of the sets.

WANT!

Oh hell, I’ll read these!

These sound delish, how’d I miss them?

Yay for unconventional histories! Definitely going to check them out whether I win or not.

I am definitely in!

Sound like a couple of great reads there! Count me in.

As an impoverished grad student I’m a big fan of free books and these sound like a great way to spend some of my summer break.

Count me in - George sounds wonderfully refreshing, and after Heyer’s Bath Tangle I’m a sucker for any hero named Ivo. (Even if I don’t win, I’ll be adding these books to my to-read list. We need more strong heroines in historical novels.)

And you’ve won me over! Pick me! I wanna read about about larger than life historical women! me!

Cannot. Pass. Up. Free. Books.
Count me in!

These sound really interesting. It sounded like the first book warranted higher than a B- though.

George sounds a lot like The Grand Sophy, except Sophy behaved when she had to. I am up for anything that brings me back to an old Georgette Heyer.

Oh, I adore stereotypes turned upside-down!

Ooh, me want!

Yeah, if I don’t win (and I won’t because I don’t), these will be the next books I buy.

Heyer came immediately to mind when I saw the hero’s name, Ivo.  Nice homage, Kalen!

Please toss my name in the hat for the drawing.

Btw, did you all know that there’s gonna be a movie with Keira Knightley about Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, out this fall?  It’s called ‘The Duchess’.

I just re-read my copy of The Unexpected Passion, a ‘faction’ about Georgiana’s daughter who married Georgiana’s sister’s lover of 15 years and their story does really restore faith in humanity, because he became a faithful husband and they really lived happily ever after for 36 years until his death at 72.  I’m reading her letters right now and they are fascinating.

Me too! I wants!

There is something to be said about the juxtaposition of oil and watercolor. I really like that comparison.

I love your reviews.  When you don’t like a book, you pinpoint why with clarity and humor (and I agree nearly all the time, which never happens), and when you do, it makes me want to run out and buy the book (or books, in this case).  So, um, yeah.  Include me in the drawing, please.  Otherwise it definitely goes on my shopping list.  I’ll even break out of my self-imposed mysteries-only run for these two.  It seems so rare these days to combine historical accuracy with a three dimensional, strong heroine.

OK…I have an admission. I bought my first Georgette Heyer book not too long ago, as she is bandied about here and at DA all the time, with raving reviews. Except…I couldn’t even get 3 chapters into it. The writing was really stylized and dated (in that it really felt like a 19th centrury novel-which I find really hard to read) and I found that extremely off-putting. Did I just get the wrong book? Please tell me, what is the attraction to Heyer?

I’m intrigued! Sign me up for the drawing.

Rhian: I couldn’t not use “Ivo”. Even though I caught some flack from non-Heyerites who thought the name wasn’t sexy. *sigh* Two of them pinned me down at a conferene and told me they’d almost skipped buying the book because the hero didn’t have a “manly” name like Jack or Jake. I kid you not: Jack and Jake. The kicker? My three crit partners at the time had heroes named Jack, Jack, and Jake. LOL!

GrowlyCub: The DD movie only covers the early (and rather boring) part of Georgiana’s life. I think it stops when she’s like 26! They’re not going to dig into any of the meaty stuff (her affair with Lord Grey, her gambling, her cancer, etc.). If you can find the illustrated version of Amanda Foreman’s biography GRAB IT. I loved the plain novel version, but all the extra paintings and cartoons etc. in the illustrated one are to die for.

Ooooh, this looks interesting.  I’ve never seen “Ivo” as a hero’s name, either.  (Yes, I am commenting to try to get the books.  No, I have no shame.)

Randi, which book did you buy? Some start off easier than others. Heyer’s voice is a bit slower than a modern romance. It WILL feel more like you’re reading Austen or Bronte than me or Candice Hern or Julia Ross.

If you can find it, try starting with DEVIL’S CUB. I defy anyone to not love that book (make yourself keep reading until Vidal kidnaps Mary, I promise you’ll be HOOKED!!!).

Haven’t heard of these books before, but I am thoroughly intrigued.

Your comments software is hating on me!!!!/wail

Me, want. I have Lord Sin already but seriously, who can have too many copies? Not I, ‘cause then I can spread the love and

infect

... erm,

push the crack

erm… give Lord Sin to my romance reading neighbor :grin:

*muttering* I hope this works

Sign me up!

Hey, how can something that’s clearly a contraction of Ivanhoe not be sexy… some people have no imagination! :)

Kalen, I’ve thought about getting the biography, but the reason I like her daughter Haryo’s story so much is because of its HEA.  Georgiana’s life, while definitely interesting, is just too sad (or should that read ‘real’?) for me.

Okay, now I’m totally picturing George from all the Nancy Drew books.  Only now she’s seduced Ned and Carson, ditched Bess and Nancy, and gotten a makeover with nails that could cut a bitch.  Awesome.

Well, if we are recommending Heyers, here are my top5:

These Old Shades
Venetia
A Convenient Marriage
Devil’s Cub
A Civil Contract

I’m also curious which one Randi bought!

Oooh! Sounds awesome. I’m in!

Romances that turn convention on its head have saved the genre for me. Just when I think the HEA gets a bit dull, I run into a book that makes it all worthwhile again. I’m adding these titles to my “get and read” list.

I always love Kalen’s comments here, so I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on these.

Never mind.  I can’t wait to see if I won.  I am all about immediate gratification.  I am ordering on Amazon now.

Wow, well, I can’t wait to read them.  I’ve tried to write historical heroines who were not the norm and was usually slammed in contests or by editors as not being accurate.  Sigh.  Maybe I just don’t have the writing chops like Hughes! ;-)

I read “Lord Sin” the other month and really liked it.  The idea of one man/one night works for me.

Count me in for the draw!

I hope it doesn’t matter what country you live in?

Read “Lord Sin” the other month.  Enjoyed every page.

These sound like fun reads!

It has been ages since I’ve been to the library or bought a new book. As a brand new mom of a month, I think these books would be a fantastic reason to head over to the library and see if they have them. Been a long time since a Historical caught my attention. Thanks!

I really like your review of these books, thanks!!!!

Put my name in please!

(First post, but I did just spend 2 months reading ALL of the archives. I’m actually disappointed that I’m caught up!)

There once was a widow named George
who surrounded herself with hot boys
this sporting set scandal
had Ivo flying off his handle:
he wanted his one night, then five more.

Pretty please?
Shadowedge

The review says ‘Georgian’, but everyone is now speaking of ‘Regency’.  Which?  When are the stories set?  It makes quite a difference.
;)

Free books? I’m in!

Hi! Except as I generally explain, I’m the Janeane Garofalo of the group - one of the guys, never thought of as anything other than. Gets damned frustrating - perhaps I need a Georges to show me my mistakes. *snort*

uh, that makes two of us. in high school i was known to my friends’ mothers as ‘it’snotagirlit’skari’. in fact, i think one of them used that as my name for a while.
also, i just wrote both of these books down in my planner with the books that i look for ever time i go to a bookstore. thus far, no luck at the local place, but now maybe i can win them. w00t! (i’ll keep looking at the store, though, just in case.)

Sign me up for the giveaway please!

I LOVE it when authors play with conventions.  Just finished “Kushiel’s Dart” and yes, the author had more leeway b/c it’s fantasy, but I still loved the switching of the Virgin/Experienced Lover roles.

Leslie: I got slammed a lot too. Believe me. The LORD SIN manuscript got 2s and 3s in the Golden Heart (and one 8). People either love it or hate it. I get very few “meh” responses, and that’s FINE with me! But it also got great comments in a few (my favorite—from an unnamed published author—was “Georgette Heyer meets Stephanie Laurens”).

I think it’s about finding the “right” judges and crit partners and looking closely at the reasons why the heroine is getting slammed. Sometimes the out-of-the-box heroine can come across a bit like Hermie the Elf (“I just want to be a dentist!”). The motivation is missing (or at least it’s missing from the page). Are the judges not buying WHY she’s the way she is? Or are they just disliking her on a more visceral level (the “I don’t like bitches/sluts” reaction)? These are very different problems and have to be approached in very different ways.

I think there’s more and more room for unconventional heroines in the genre. Recently writers like Victoria Dahl, Candice Hern and Julia Ross have had some great anti-heroines.

Oooh, free books! The premise of Lord Scandal sounds very intriguing.

Free books, you say? Count me in.

Randi, which book didn’t you like? I’ve recently been unable to finish Venetia, and I love the others of ehrs I’ve read.

I’d rec: Cotillion, The Convenient Marriage, and The Grand Sophy (warning for some quite horrifying anti-semitism, just skip the scene where Sophy goes to the moneylender entirely) because they’re the funniest ones I’ve read so far.

Devil’s Cub and These Old Shades are more romantic, but you may want to read The Black Moth for background (I don’t think anyone likes that one).

Good lord there are a lot of comments already!

...well, here’s another. ;)

(My spam word is ‘tell39’—I suppose I could, but that would surely just make my odds worse!)

Ooh, sounds fascinating. Sign me up!

DO WANT

I’m throwing my hat in the ring!  A big, fabulous, English wedding hat sort of hat (for which I actually do have to shop this weekend).  Here’s hoping I’ll have some books to go with it!

Wow, sounds like my kind of historical(s).

And it was good for me.

The review says ‘Georgian’, but everyone is now speaking of ‘Regency’.  Which?  When are the stories set?  It makes quite a difference. ;)

They’re Georgian. Set in 1788-1789. But the world is not that far removed from the extended Regency period. It’s not going to feel alien to someone who reads “Regencies”, though the cast of movers and shakers is going to be different which might be confusing to those who are looking for Beau Brummell and Lady Jersey and Byron. I’m working on a “Who’s Who” page for my website. I’m hoping to have it up this weekend. *fingers crossed*

Partly the confusion comes from how someone dates “The Regency”. Purists limit it to the ACTUAL dates of the Regency (1811-1820). Most readers, writers and publishers fudge the dates out to the first few decades of the 19th century (1800-1830), covering most of the period in which Empire-style gowns were worn, the conflict with Napoleon was taking place, and the Prince of Wales was either prominent, acting as regent, or king. Historically, an argument can be made to stretch back to 1788 (when George III has his first bout of madness and the first Regency crisis takes place).

Reading the review made me want to pick these up—maybe I’ll get lucky and save myself the $$$!
Love the site!

ooooo—I’m in! I wanna read about a nonvirginal Georgian heroine! Definitely will look these up if I don’t win them. *fingers crossed*

(HA! and my keyword is ‘want33’! Yes. Yes I do want.)

I like the idea of these stories, especially the concept of the girl more at ease with men than with other women applied to a historical. I don’t think I’ve seen it before. And I love those girls who have loads of male friends, probably because I’d like to be like that too :-p. Count me in!

I love THE BLACK MOTH, but I don’t think you have to read it before you read THESE OLD SHADES (though you’ll love Avon even more if you do!). What kills me (turns me flaming green with envy!) is that Heyer was 16 when she wrote THE BLACK MOTH. 16!!!

I think the only Heyer books I don’t like enough to reread them are A CIVIL CONTRACT and BEAUVALLET. My all time fav is VENETIA.

Desperate to read these books!

Oooh, me!  me!  Pick me!

So, as I quietly admit, I’ve never read a Kalen Hughes book. Where should I start?

spamword: lay96. Ok, seriously, why does the spam blocker keep reminding me of my college boyfriend? The one I didn’t marry? Cause this is like the fourth time.

What a cool line: “George is a canvas you can smell drying from across the street.”

I just finished my first Heyer last week (The Grand Sophy).  I don’t know what took me so long—I’m 24 and have been reading romance since my early teens.  I have a very enjoyable summer ahead, I think, but would love these books to add to the pile.

I loved Lord Sin and can’t wait to read Lord Scandal! Yay!

Wow, these really sound good. Sign me up, even if I don’t win free copies!

Wow, what a great review. 

I don’t read historicals (except early Garwood and McNaught) and managed to resist the urge to pick up Bourne’s Spymaster’s Lady despite the glowing reviews here and at DA.

But, I have to say that I will be running to Border’s tonight to pick up Lord Sin and Lord Scandal to read tomorrow.  So kudos to SB Sarah and Kalen for titillating my interest with both a wonderful review and a great storyline.

OK…just found out that none of my local Borders have Lord Sin in stock so I had to order it .  And that Lord Scandal is a June release.  Bummer…I was so looking forward to reading them tomorrow.

I ordered both of these books on paperbackswap.com last week after reading some comments here. “Lord Sin” arrived yesterday; “Lord Scandal” is on its way. Woo-hoo!

I’m halfway through Book #2 of the “Outlander” series, so I think I will take a break from Jamie & Claire and move these books to the top of the TBR pile!

Gimme! I want! Pleeeeeeease! Pretty please?

*Grabbing control from the greedy inner child* Sounds great, I would love to read them.

Chance at free books?  Count me in!

These books sound so much fun!  I love historicals.

LORD SIN is getting hard to find. It was a May 07 release and right now I think ordering it (online or at your local bookstore) is the only way to get a copy. It’s the way of the world . . . you should hear my mom complain about it. LOL!

Ruth: These are my only two books (so far) so getting started is easy. If you meant you’d never read Heyer and don’t know where to start, I hear you. Try: DEVIL’S CUB, VENETIA, ARABELLA, or THE GRAND SOPHY. All of those are great introductions to Heyer.

I’m not usually one for historicals. However these definitely sound interesting so sign me up for the contest!

Beauvallet was the first Heyer that I read (at ... 13 maybe) and I loved it.  I must admit when I went back many years later and re-read it, it had lost some charm, but I still enjoy it.  I think the only Heyer’s I couldn’t finish were the non-fictiony ones.  I even enjoy her murder mysteries

*saying anything*

:-D

Diane - you really should read Spymaster’s Lady!

I’d love to win free books, but I have no room to keep them, so I’d pass them on to the next person…after I read them!

I just hated the heroine in BEAUVALLET. I spent the whole book being annoyed that the hero liked her and that I knew he was going to end up with her. *shrug* It happens.

I can get them free at the library where I work…but it’s not the same as owning!  Then I can have the spines cracked at my favorite scenes.

Favorite = most sexy

Word: seems48…seems as though more than 48 people are intrigued by these books!

Those books sound absolutely delightful - I do often get tired when it’s always the heroine who is virginal and the hero who is confidence and experienced. Have it the other way around! Some authors (Jane Feather) for example have tried having the sexually sporting heroine, but I was so completely bored by “Almost a Lady” that I couldn’t even finish it.

Ohh, I’d like one, please.  From the list of comments above, though, I’m not holding out much hope, but I’m throwing my hat in anyway!

my spamword is giving me hope, too!!  thirty43, indeed!

They’re Georgian. Set in 1788-1789.

Thank you so much, Kalen!  A wonderful period.  I am a lot more attracted to the society of the late 18th century than that of the early 19th, which is already showing the signs of the rather smothering atmosphere of the Victorian period, and I am sure you have evoked it with real panache and with that firm foundation of knowledge that will make it ring true.  I am going to look out for these books, and really look forward to reading them!

Wow, I just read the excerpts at Amazon and if I don’t win, I’ll definitely order them from Bamm.com (Amazon is good for that, but not for buying any longer, he he).  Btw, even if we can’t all win, the prices are really reasonable for books ($3.99 and $4.99), but they are also shorter than I’m used to (301 and 285 respectively).

Kalen, was that just the way the stories went or was that a publisher imposed limit?

Spam word: question82, well, if I think long enough I can probably come up with 82 questions… :)