tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post4548565954336004692..comments2023-12-27T03:44:03.834+01:00Comments on Presenting Lenore: Book Review: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta ChaseLenore Appelhanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-22236633116785462322010-06-21T05:16:26.021+02:002010-06-21T05:16:26.021+02:00I went through a big Harlequin phase in high schoo...I went through a big Harlequin phase in high school. I OD'd on it I suppose since I haven't read the specific romance genre in a while. But I do enjoy romance in my everyday fiction reads. And I am friendly with many romance authors in the blogosphere. It is fascinating to me - the formula and allure - but also the variety of genres within the genre if you will. If you want a different take - try Confessions of a Contractor by Richard Murphy. Instead of "chick lit" I call it "stud lit." Romance from the guy's perspective. Very entertaining :0)The Bumbleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334162339045336577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-63912951059897057462010-06-19T03:28:16.676+02:002010-06-19T03:28:16.676+02:00Well, I'm glad that you tried one. I haven'...Well, I'm glad that you tried one. I haven't read a "romance" like this in a long time. Probably because I'm over the hill and finally have realized that men just aren't like this in real life!! LOL!!Stacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600979915661464945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-76044349626946413082010-06-18T23:34:08.366+02:002010-06-18T23:34:08.366+02:00I have heard a lot of Lord of Scoundrels, and migh...I have heard a lot of Lord of Scoundrels, and might pick up a copy from the library. The cliches you mentioned did make me flinch; however, I like romance, and if done well, predictability can be comfort reads.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-63560464490854817692010-06-18T21:07:01.249+02:002010-06-18T21:07:01.249+02:00This was a fun post. I just might have to pick ...This was a fun post. I just might have to pick up LoS - sounds like a ride.Carehttp://bkclubcare.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-24853023062171291712010-06-18T20:39:54.724+02:002010-06-18T20:39:54.724+02:00I guess it's hard for a book to not be predict...I guess it's hard for a book to not be predictable when an HEA is guaranteed.<br /><br />Lord of Scoundrels was one of the earliest romances that I read. Like you, I enjoyed it but I didn't get what the big deal was. Right now, my favorite historical romance authors are Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas. Don't give up on romance just yet - you should try there books first.Jacqueline C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09761461686932219434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-31147218304585456682010-06-18T20:33:14.151+02:002010-06-18T20:33:14.151+02:00Some are that predictable and some aren't. Th...Some are that predictable and some aren't. The ability to predict the stories and general plot points is what made me leave reading romances behind except for a few favorite authors.Allisynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02487364565547314329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-49210282019723182142010-06-18T20:17:11.980+02:002010-06-18T20:17:11.980+02:00Hmm, I don't think I've ever come across a...Hmm, I don't think I've ever come across a love triangle in a romance, so yeah, it's all about predictability and wish fulfillment. One that I really enjoyed recently was Sarah MacLean's Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. The protagonist was NOT a fragile, buxomous female who doesn't change throughout the story, and I really, really liked the two main characters!Steph Suhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834692034486125015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-64025090143850319182010-06-18T18:53:12.688+02:002010-06-18T18:53:12.688+02:00I've always shied away from romance novels. I...I've always shied away from romance novels. I did try one once. It was called Sweet Savage Love (I think) by Rosemary Rogers. I would like to give them a try again to see what I'd think. I'm with you though that I would prefer to read one that wasn't so predictable.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739982274914536036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-29743220464206147882010-06-18T16:55:40.137+02:002010-06-18T16:55:40.137+02:00I am glad you read this one!! I would have to say ...I am glad you read this one!! I would have to say that for the most part, these types of books are pretty predictable, which is one of the reasons I don't read many of them. I think there are probably a few that would defy expectations, but I can't really recommend any that do. Funny story though: my mom read these types of books almost exclusively when I was small. She used to hide stacks and stacks of them in her closet, way in the back. When I finally came across them, the covers made me giggle. A lot of redheaded women in skimpy dresses being bent backward by men that look like Fabio. I think in the past few years the covers have gotten tamer, but I really have a lot of nostalgia for those old racy covers! I have tried to find a few of them at the used bookstores, and just can't seem to do it. It's like they were taken out of circulation sometime in the 90's!!Zibileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05857638467064749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-23071316926362944422010-06-18T16:08:09.103+02:002010-06-18T16:08:09.103+02:00I agree, romances are predictable, at least in th...I agree, romances are predictable, at least in the broad outline. It's the journey that may hold some surprises, but may not. If I'm reading a romance, I'm looking for a little predictability. I want to know there's going to be a happy ending.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-30128208648189207522010-06-18T15:42:37.233+02:002010-06-18T15:42:37.233+02:00All of the ones I read in junior high were very pr...All of the ones I read in junior high were very predictable, which is part of the reason why I stopped reading them. Also, I think I was curious about the naughty bits, but even those get old after awhile. LOL Still, I can see how people could like them as comfort reads.<br /><br />I think it's great that you gave one a try.<br /><br />--AnnaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-74589580955039423202010-06-18T15:35:09.374+02:002010-06-18T15:35:09.374+02:00I read one romance last year and it was very predi...I read one romance last year and it was very predictable too. Your review and Dain's thoughtfulness made me laugh!bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-83511171132290386682010-06-18T15:31:15.111+02:002010-06-18T15:31:15.111+02:00lol! Oh yeah, they are. The whole goal of the roma...lol! Oh yeah, they are. The whole goal of the romance is to pine for someone, do the dance of attaction, then end up together.LM Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16624508396760965680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-1458707278863599512010-06-18T15:19:35.032+02:002010-06-18T15:19:35.032+02:00I think I hit the wall with these in college. I a...I think I hit the wall with these in college. I agree with Meghan that they would make good comfort reads. Nothing surprising. I really enjoyed the quality of writing in some of the historical ones and every very long while and again I am tempted to pick one up.Nicole (Linus's Blanket)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12473607646939202824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-2962438777821624802010-06-18T15:18:18.464+02:002010-06-18T15:18:18.464+02:00Thanks for your review Lenore. I really enjoyed Lo...Thanks for your review Lenore. I really enjoyed LoS and it did get me to read other books in the romance genre. I have now read quite a few and have found them all to be different with regards to plot and characters, but yeah they're all HEA, which I suppose makes them all ultimately predictable. But then its that predictability I want from romance books, just like I get other emotional responses from other genres, which you could say also have their predictabilities. I'm glad you tried out the genre, like me I didn't think I would like them, but they're really fun and a great respite from my usual fare of horror and urban fantasy. Maybe read a few more to get a real comparison before deciding against the genre altogether - that's what I did and my view changed completely :) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13838008635965872830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-33116030653036352472010-06-18T15:02:42.046+02:002010-06-18T15:02:42.046+02:00Lisa - Thank you! It's definitely a good pick ...Lisa - Thank you! It's definitely a good pick for non-romance readers I think, thanks to the witty dialogue, strong heroine, great writing and the icon subplot (which I really enjoyed).<br /><br />It's not like I predicted everything that would happen (though as soon as I saw she was good with a pistol, I thought "I bet she shoots him at some point"), but Lord Dain's character arc went exactly as expected, as did the beats of the relationship. And I don't even read romances!Lenore Appelhanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-20116897781601274852010-06-18T14:55:43.785+02:002010-06-18T14:55:43.785+02:00I think I was the first one to suggest LoS, so I&#...I think I was the first one to suggest LoS, so I'm glad that you at least sort of enjoyed it. :) <br /><br />I would say that the main way that romance is predictable is that there is generally going to be a Happily Ever After of some type. You do know that the two leads are going to end up together. (When I've been reading Serious Gritty books or watching Serious Gritty news, reading a romance for awhile can be a nice boost.) <br /><br />The journey there is the fun part, and yes, is often unpredictable. At least to me-- but I didn't find LoS predictable, other than that there would be the aforementioned HEA.<br /><br />Reading back over the comments from your other post, there are a ton of great suggestions there. I hope you find an author you love there somewhere!Lisa S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00656565902440542367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-24560398699864035942010-06-18T14:53:55.681+02:002010-06-18T14:53:55.681+02:00Meghan - I know what you mean about vicariously ex...Meghan - I know what you mean about vicariously experiencing falling in love again...but I think in this case, the hero was just too extreme for me to really get into their affair. I couldn't imagine myself even talking to this guy, let alone falling in love with him.<br /><br />I LIKE being anxious when I read. Not much for comfort reads I guess!Lenore Appelhanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-987167496142681464.post-83439509163143975802010-06-18T14:48:36.056+02:002010-06-18T14:48:36.056+02:00Some of them are predictable - for me, that's ...Some of them are predictable - for me, that's why they're comfort reads. I know what's coming in the end, it's how they get there that matters. Sort of like vicariously experiencing falling in love again - something I don't plan to do in real life again so might as well get it in book form. =)<br /><br />There are a few with less predictability. Love triangles happen, but most of the time you know who's going to win. The only one I can think of in which I genuinely didn't was A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore. I couldn't even decide who I wanted her to choose! I was surprised at how anxious the lack of a definite ending made me while I was reading - it definitely proved to me why I read these at least in part.Meghanhttp://medievalbookworm.comnoreply@blogger.com