Reads & Thoughts

Timeline created by brendathebig in Personal

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Event Date:	Event Title:	Event Description:
07/21/2010	Beguilement, Lois McMaster Bujold	For a world so seemingly simple and uneventful, Bujold does a good job of keeping me hooked by virtue of her wonderfully fleshed-out characters. Promising start to the series. The romance is probably a big factor in reeling me in though #iamaromantic
07/23/2010	Legacy, Lois McMaster Bujold	Bujold continues to introduce us to her world; this time the Lakewalkers' end. I felt Fawn's tension and vulnerability in being an outcast among foreigners too acutely for my peace of mind though, and the comeuppance gained at the end was not really enough to assuage it, although realistic. But the final decision made was a relief, thankfully.
07/26/2010	Passage, Lois McMaster Bujold	This has to be my favourite book out of all four in the series. Mainly because I love me a little quest/adventure/travel, but also because I loved the introduction of secondary characters who were going to be more than mauve shirts, as well as the formation of a patchwork family.
07/28/2010	Horizon, Lois McMaster Bujold	Not as lovely as 'Passage', better than 'Legacy', and on par with 'Beguilement' for its enjoyment factor. Satisfactory wrap-up of the series. Fawn's role and ingenuity comes full circle again, stealing Dag's show. But he's got plenty of spotlight to spare; no one's doubting his awesomeness after all.
07/29/2010	Shards of Honor, Lois McMaster Bujold	My first glimpse of the great action girl Cordelia Naismith; she doesn't disappoint. I enjoyed this book a lot, but it also challenged me out of complacency in my notions of sexuality and the double standards built in me through the years of romance-reading as well as my own gender myopia. It took a bit of post-read reflections to get used to, but that's what books are for -- learning to accept new ideas.
08/01/2010	Last Night's Scandal, Loretta Chase	My beloved Olivia and Peregrine, all grown up! I'm not entirely sure it met my expectations, this book, but it was a good read nonetheless. I expect no less of Loretta Chase. The main couple seem to have stayed in-character, but I have to wonder if certain personality traits are more endearing in children than in adults. In any case I would read it again; I think I would like it better the second time around.
08/02/2010	A Kiss at Midnight, Eloisa James	I do love Eloisa James, when I don't have to deal with adultery in her books (I'm a little traditional like that). Lovely read, although the mini-misunderstanding scene near the end was rather contrived and very silly. Even if it was to serve as catalyst to the real underlying issue, to hinge the couple's separation on that event wasn't very well-done, IMHO.
08/04/2010	The Lady Next Door, Laura Matthews	Rather bland, even for a regency. Nothing objectionable, but it's not romantic enough for me.
08/07/2010	Midnight Man, Lisa Marie Rice	There are certain authors that, thanks to the rep they have in the readers community, cause me to doubt my own judgment and keep going through their backlist, even after I've found myself unable to stomach the first book (e.g. J.R.Ward, Christine Feehan). I've never changed my mind after subsequent tries. Unfortunately, I think Lisa Marie Rice is going to be one of them. Wish me luck with the other books
08/10/2010	Burning Up, Anthology	Nalini Singh's 'Whispers of Sin' - A bit cheesy and reminiscent of her older books, which I didn't think much of. Meljean Brook's 'Here There Be Monsters' - Wonderful introduction to her new steampunk verse. I'm already curious about this world thanks to the tantalizing glimpses of more hinted at in the short length of this novella.
08/12/2010	Barrayar, Lois McMaster Bujold	Cordelia Naismith gets her Crowning Moment of Awesome in this. Go action moms! Nice climax and resolution, even if the first half was slow and got me impatient in anticipation of Certain Events thanks to readers' foresight.
08/15/2010	Greek Tycoon, Waitress Wife, Julia James	I probably liked this book more for how the story turned out than the author's writing, since I remember hating a previous book of hers I read with the secret baby trope. But then, secret baby ruins everything. I am surprised and highly grateful with how the respawn matter was dealt with in here; I'm not sure what it says about me, that I preferred it to the alternative. Also, loved the twist at the end.
08/15/2010	His Christmas Bride, Helen Brooks	Hero in pursuit! I never get tired of that trope, girly girl that I am. So long as the heroine doesn't get too annoyingly elusive and does a little reciprocation to make up for it at the end. This book delivers. Of course, I remember the last book I read with the gender roles reversed, and I'd loved it too. Heroes and heroines in pursuit ftw!
08/18/2010	One Dance with a Duke, Tessa Dare	Tessa Dare does the best sexual tension built-up ever. I thought so in 'Goddess of the Hunt', and I'm only more convinced after this read. Martyr heroine grated on me a little, but it was largely bearable, thank god. I felt the heroine's obstinance towards the end a bit too much, but she redeemed herself with her determination to make things right. I wish the hero didn't meet her halfway though, but I suppose this is to show the depth of his love. Wish he had as much of a backbone as her.
08/21/2010	The Warrior's Apprentice, Lois McMaster Bujold	I have to say I'm not used to a male protagonist. Or at least one without an established romantic interest. Male protagonists are restricted to shounen manga for me, so this was something new I had to get used to in my reading. Nonetheless, fun adventure read, semi-realistic outcomes thanks to a big dollop of luck as much as the main character's ingenuity. Also, made me tear up at the passing of a certain beloved character from books past :'(
08/24/2010	Scandal in Spring, Lisa Kleypas	Ah I love the secretly-in-love-with-you-since-forever trope, especially when it's the hero who's besotted. What can I say, a girl's got her ego :D But the Bowman sisters' bullheaded vehemence towards the hero, based on first impressions and assumptions, seemed perilously close-minded to me and rather hypocritical, considering their own history of being judged similarly. Still, good read.
08/25/2010	A Wallflower Christmas, Lisa Kleypas	Classic Kleypas. Preferred the little romantic reaffirmation scenes of couples from previous books in the series to the story of the main couple themselves though. Novella-length; so too short perhaps, to be much more than fanservice?
08/26/2010	Bold Destiny, Jane Feather	The historical backdrop took my breath away. Akbar Khan was one hell of a character; made me half-hope there was a (romance) book about him. Main couple were very human, very equal in the dynamics of their relationship, and just as equally helpless in the hands of fate. Quite unused to this in romance. But Akbar Khan makes up for it sighs
08/28/2010	On the Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta	Beautifully written characters. Not like your run-of-the-mill YA. But then it's for older readers, so that's probably why.
08/31/2010	Finnikin of the Rock, Melina Marchetta	Interesting setting and characters. I would've liked it as a lighthearted middle-grade novel (like Diana Wynne Jones or Gail Carson Levine), but alas, it was too grim for that. At the same time, the setting was not developed enough to hold my interest as a fantasy novel. Rest of thoughts here.
09/01/2010	Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles	[YA Romance] So-so only. Reminds me of the Love Stories line I used to read. Nothing special. This just isn't the genre for me. Plus I've never been fond of the 'west side story' trope.
09/04/2010	The Spirit Ring, Lois McMaster Bujold	Lovely read, as usual :)
09/06/2010	Slave to Love, Michelle Reid	Subverted tropes. Not as angsty as Susan Napier, so I didn't feel too wrung-out reading it. Not as evocative too, but I enjoyed it nonetheless for the characters. A bit heavy on the descriptions and at times seem out of place, but nothing too jarring.
09/06/2010	The Bellini Bride, Michelle Reid	Glomming her backlist :D
09/07/2010	The Mistress Bride, Michelle Reid	Equals, finally.
09/07/2010	The Passion Bargain, Michelle Reid	Ah yes, the hero who isn't quite so promiscuous and commitment-phobic as he seems. I wonder if Reid will go one step further and give us a virgin hero. Going through her backlist in anticipation now...
09/07/2010	The Sheikh's Chosen Wife, Michelle Reid	Mostly external conflict and some communication issues this time. It's refreshing to find a love already well-established off-page; none of that helovesme/helovesmenot dilemma. I kind of wonder though, if her heroines all seem a touch prone to emotional impulsiveness. I'd love to see a heroine in pursuit from this author.
09/09/2010	The Ultimate Betrayal, Michelle Reid	Mmm. I don't know what it says about me, that the tightness in my chest and horror I felt at the situation the heroine was in all eased considerably when she got her own back and kissed another man. Power dynamics issue? In any case, was not too agonizing a read as I'd feared.
09/09/2010	A Question of Pride, Michelle Reid	An alright read. Pretty satisfying, apart from the initial waffling and orgy of bitterness.
09/11/2010	Blameless, Gail Carriger	According to the reviews I've read, it seems to me that the huge potential angstfest people have been looking forward to in this book have not been met. It's lacking in 'depth of emotion', apparently. I think I've been too burned out by all the Reids and Napiers to even consider this a bad thing. I've not made any secret of my reluctance to read angst, so this was a delightful breath of fresh air. Am satisfied.
09/12/2010	Passion Becomes You, Michelle Reid	Can't remember what I thought of this book...oh yes, the hero's reaction to the accidental pregnancy was a nicely subverted trope. Thank you, Miss Reid.
09/13/2010	The Arabian Love-Child, Michelle Reid	By far the WORST book I've read from Reid. The asshole-to-doormat ratio is way off the charts. Oh, and hatefucking all around. If there is one thing I absolutely HATE reading in romances, it's a hatefuck. The hero is disgustingly small-minded and barely grovels at the end . The heroine is disturbingly lacking in self-respect and strength of character; she just fell in line and married someone who was determined to think the worst of her. Ugliest use of the BigMis trope ever. Highly disappointed.
09/13/2010	Demon from the Dark, Kresley Cole	LOVING the cameos, though I can see how new readers might not like it. Great read. With a relatively well-adjusted heroine, despite the personal issues she'd been heaped with. Liked the overcoming of the language barrier between the couple. Some things confused me though: vampires being sexual (post-Bride I suppose?); demoness whores smelling of others' seed (I thought demons didn't ejaculate until after The One); Lore creatures must be a lot more unfaithful than the fated mate trope suggests.
09/14/2010	Passionate Scandal, Michelle Reid	Oh lovely, lovely read. This is the first book of hers where I've rooted for the couple from the very start. I think that is how I must start with all her books, to be able to gain any sense of satisfaction by the end. Small caveat: the heroine's 'old personality' was so radically different from who she is now, as well as from Reid's typical heroines, that I had a hard time buying them as the same person.
09/14/2010	Eye of Heaven, Michelle Reid	Yay another couple that I rooted for. Right up until before the end, that is. I can't really explain the sudden turnabout, but I'm guessing...the weapon that the ex-wife still seemed to represent at that point, made it all too fresh to deal with. That and only throwing her out after she admitted to her lies (or did I read that wrongly?) deserves a wtf. Also, unsatisfactory comeuppance where the villainous ex is concerned. But teddy bear hero is very interesting concept anyway.
09/15/2010	The Price of a Bride, Michelle Reid	...Wow. Either I'm becoming inured to hatefucks, or there's something in the execution that makes a difference. No doormat heroine this time, although the power imbalance did bother me a bit. Luckily that resolved itself soon enough. Unfortunately, although I could follow the journey from contempt and disgust to understanding and respect (which was poignant all on its own), I didn't follow the inevitable conclusion into love. They didn't seem to do anything for each other that made them lovable.
09/15/2010	Mia and the Powerful Greek, MIchelle Reid	Reid's heroes don't grovel enough. I can only rely on the hero to not condemn himself so far that his actions cannot be justified. Having said that, I absolutely detest the idea of deliberately hurting someone for their or your own good, or that it entitles you to an automatic pardon. If someone I loved and trusted hurt me deeply and came back to me explaining why he/she did that, I might be understanding, but certainly not forgiving. Forgiveness is a different plane altogether. Grovel, bitches.
09/16/2010	A Passionate Marriage, Michelle Reid	I liked this book :) established feelings. The villain disturbed me, and I'm not sure I really like conflicts being drummed up and wrapped up in the last few pages. It's rushed, and doesn't give me space and time to let it smooth over.
09/16/2010	Ethan's Temptress Bride, Michelle Reid	HEROINE IN PURSUIT YES! Eve was a delight. Unfortunately I didn't really like the premise set in this book. Rape is too touchy a subject for me. It didn't serve as a main conflict, and was only brought up at the end, so it wasn't satisfactorily resolved for me. But a pretty good read nonetheless.
09/17/2010	The Famous Heroine, Mary Balogh	It was alright, although the humour seemed to be forced, and I couldn't really relate with the characters as to the actual hilarity of their situation.
09/17/2010	An Unlikely Duchess, Mary Balogh	This is one of the funniest books I've read in awhile, in a style reminiscent to Wodehouse. That reminds me, I must pick him up again. It played on the literal TSTL characteristics of the heroine(s), which unfortunately, grated after awhile. Seems only the females are witless in this book. Or maybe it's just a family thing. But it can be easily overlooked for the sheer hilarity and sweet romance. Lamp-shaded tropes anyone?
09/18/2010	Gentle Conquest, Mary Balogh	Very sweet martyr hero. I don't blame him, but I feel bad all the same that he had to resort to infidelity. Even though it technically wasn't, it was still an...emotional affair with someone who didn't exist. That bothered me. I wonder if I'll hesitate to pick up Masked Deception now.
09/18/2010	What She Needs, Anne Calhoun
09/19/2010	Lady with a Black Umbrella, Mary Balogh	Best I've read, apart from An Unlikely Duchess. Sometimes I wish I were more forgiving of weaknesses in characters though. It would do me well to remember that otherwise there'd be no conflict.
09/19/2010	An Unacceptable Offer, Mary Balogh
09/20/2010	A Masked Deception, Mary Balogh
09/20/2010	The Plumed Bonnet, Mary Balogh
09/20/2010	The Ideal Wife, Mary Balogh
09/21/2010	A Precious Jewel. Mary Balogh
09/22/2010	A Christmas Bride, Mary Balogh
09/23/2010	The Secret, Julie Garwood
09/23/2010	Dancing with Clara, Mary Balogh
09/24/2010	The Time Weaver, Shana Abé
09/25/2010	Affair, Amanda Quick
09/26/2010	Heaven and Earth, Nora Roberts
09/26/2010	One Night with You, Shiloh Walker
09/27/2010	Black Rose, Nora Roberts
09/29/2010	The Ungrateful Governess, Mary Balogh
09/30/2010	The Curse of Chalion, Lois McMaster Bujold	Bujold likes to mutilate her heroes.
10/02/2010	Selene, Lilith Saintcrow	A rather unlikeable and self-absorbed heroine who, i'm pretty sure, crosses over the line from independent into stupidly reckless.
10/03/2010	Bayou Moon, Ilona Andrews
10/05/2010	Crocodile on the Sandbank, Elizabeth Peters
10/12/2010	Accidental Mistress, Susan Napier
10/13/2010	The Native Star, M.K. Hobson
10/14/2010	Borders of Infinity, Lois McMaster Bujold
10/15/2010	The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer
10/16/2010	Awaken to Pleasure, Nalini Singh
10/16/2010	Not Quite Married, Betina Krahn
10/17/2010	Mistress for a Weekend, Susan Napier
10/18/2010	Mistress of the Groom, Susan Napier
10/18/2010	The Perfect Mistress, Betina Krahn
10/19/2010	The Bride and the Buccaneer, Darlene Marshall
10/21/2010	The Convenient Marriage, Georgette Heyer
10/22/2010	The Taste of Innocence, Stephanie Laurens
10/23/2010	Lost in Love, Michelle Reid	Equal power dynamics ftw. When the heroine is suitably emotionally shielded by her equal footing with the hero, I can usually forgive anything.
10/25/2010	Crown Duel, Sherwood Smith
10/25/2010	Tempting Harriet, Mary Balogh
10/26/2010	Practice Makes Perfect, Julie James
10/28/2010	Rebellious Desire, Julie Garwood
10/30/2010	Slightly Dangerous, Mary Balogh
11/01/2010	Half Past Dead, Zoe Archer & Bianca D'Arc
11/02/2010	The Vor Game, Lois McMaster Bujold
11/03/2010	Play of Passion, Nalini Singh
11/04/2010	Saving Francesca, Melina Marchetta
11/05/2010	The Aim of a Lady, Laura Matthews
11/07/2010	Cetaganda, Lois McMaster Bujold
11/09/2010	Ethan of Athos, Lois McMaster Bujold
11/12/2010	Looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta
11/13/2010	A Company of Swans, Eva Ibbotson
11/15/2010	That Other Woman, Elizabeth Neff Walker
11/23/2010	Captain Sinister's Lady, Darlene Marshall
11/28/2010	Mini Shopaholic, Sophie Kinsella
11/29/2010	Anything For You, Sarah Mayberry
11/29/2010	True Enchanter, Susan Napier
12/02/2010	Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
12/06/2010	All I Ever Wanted, Kristan Higgins
12/08/2010	Unwrapped, Megan Hart
12/10/2010	Demon Night, Meljean Brook
12/11/2010	Demon Bound, Meljean Brook
12/13/2010	I Shall Wear Midnight, Terry Pratchett
12/21/2010	Demon Forged, Meljean Brook
12/24/2010	Beauty, Robin McKinley
12/24/2010	Storming the Castle, Eloisa James
01/04/2011	Warrior, Zoe Archer
01/06/2011	Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr
01/11/2011	Command Performance, Nora Roberts
01/14/2011	Gold Ring of Betrayal, Michelle Reid