Musings of A Bookworm and Movie Lover

Top 10 Heroines-I had to list mine as an exercise on one of my groups and I had to post them here. It was very hard to narrow down my favorites to the ten on this list. Here these amazing heroines are... 1. Jessica Trent-Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase 2. Bailee McKoy-The Texan’s Wager by Jodi Thomas 3. Cristabel Gaines-Lawless by Diana Palmer 4. Guinevere Mary Fairchild-A Well-Pleasured Lady by Christina Dodd 5. Lady Caroline-My Darling Caroline by Adele Ashworth 6. Anne Wilder-All Through The Night by Connie Brockway 7. Lady Lily-Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas 8. Hester-Indigo by Beverly Jenkins 9. Nora-Lady Gallant by Suzanne Robinson 10.Mary Potter-Mackenzie’s Mountain

I was thinking about those heroines who definitely go against the sweet, innocent type and absolutely captivate the reader. They might be very sexually experienced, just plain wild, or perhaps even have a violent or tortured past that has made them lose their emotional innocence. Perhaps they are pure in body but have impure motives. Or they are neither pure nor have pure motives. They are the women that could possibly be a villain in another book or have enough anti-hero in them to make them interesting. Which ones stand out in your mind? These are the ones that I like. Feel free to elaborate on why you added them to the list. 1.Madeleine Dumais-Winter Garden by Adele Ashworth 2.Ghislaine de Lorny-A Rose At Midnight by Anne Stuart 3.Lady Alyx-The Rake by Mary Jo Putney 4.Serena Riverton-Forbidden by Jo Beverley 5.Lily Lawson-Then Came You by Lisa Kleypas 6.Sophia Sydney-Lady Sophia's Lover 7.Anne Wilder-All Through The Night by Connie Brockway 8.Tippy-Lawless by...

I finally watched Kill Bill. I was great! Let me tell you, I am not a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino. But he made one heck of a movie. It was amazing. Uma Thurman did a great job. I can totally see why she got an Oscar nomination. You can see that QT is definitely a lover of movies. If there was a genre that he enjoys, he put in the movie, but it made a lovely collage that was definitely stronger for the sum of its parts. The blood was a bit over the top, and that was one of the reasons I hesitated watching it, but it could have been worse. The scene that would have been really bad was in black and white so that it wasn't too excessive. I loved the swordplay, because that's my thing. Put a samurai sword and a good swordsman/woman in a movie and I'm there. Uma was a natural with the action and swordplay. And my girl Lucy was splendid as always. There were some great characters in the movie. Some were almost over the top and some played to excellent precision l...

I watched Spiderman-2 yesterday and I was totally feeling Peter Parker. He is in a terrible place in this movie. He is feeling overwhelmed on all sides. He is feeling like the world is falling apart. He keeps getting fired from jobs because he's chronically late, he is not doing well in school because of missing class and not having time for homework. He can barely pay his rent, and his friends are angry at him. Mary Jane doesn't understand why he can't be there for her. Aunt May feels disconnected from him as well. The problem is that his mission has overtaken his life. I feel that because that's where I am. My life is overwhelmed by obligations. Demands of people at work and at home. But he can't tell them why he seems like an unreliable person. He's too busy out there fighting evil. Isn't that more important? Not to the people who think you let them down personally. Poor Peter. He had a great journey to undertake. One of self-discovery. I...

I have always liked to read older books, because of my love of history and days long past. I read Louisa May Alcott's books, Edith Hamilton's Mythology, Jack London's White Fang and Call of the Wild, All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot, C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and others, including those I read in class and enjoyed. However, I am endeavoring to read more classics. Part of the reason is because I want my period stories to be authentic in writing style. Also I think there are a lot of great classic stories out there that I haven't read. I am particularly interested in classic horror and adventure stories. Here is my list, not in alphabetical order: 1.Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott 2.Dracula by Bram Stoker 3.The Last of The Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper 4.The Invisible Man/The Time Machine by H.G. Wells 5.Selected Stories of O Henry 6.Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson 7.Kidnapped by Robert Louis...

My June Reads Great reading month although I hit a slump near the middle to end of the month. My highlight reads are starred. 1. Lady Defiant-Suzanne Robinson. (Historical Romance-Elizabethan) A+. Lovely story and characters who win your heart. (Roguish hero) 2. The Kissing Gate-Fiona Carr. (Historical Romance-Regency) A+. I really liked the writer’s style and it was enjoyably sensual. (Plump heroine) 3. The Perfect Wife-Jane Goodger (Historical Romance-Edwardian) A. Good book but I found some of the interactions between h/h annoying. (Ex-plump heroine) 4. Rightfully His-Tracy Grant (Historical Romance-Regency). A. Good read but a little slow at times. (Friends to lovers) 5. *Almost Like Being In Love-Christina Dodd (Contemporary Romance). A+. Another winner by a favorite author of mine-passionate, deep, compelling. Two characters that you want to end up together. (Tortured heroine) 6. *Lawless-Diana Palmer (Contemporary Romance). A++. Wonderful, excellent, en...

I just read Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I started it Sunday and finished it yesterday. What a great book. Definitely an A+. Sherrilyn just has a gift for making characters that you shed tears for and fall in love with. Julian really touched my heart and I felt for him in his pain. SK also has a great way with telling ancient history so that you're riveted. I admit I'm a history buff anyway, but she just brings it to light in a vivid and interesting way. And she seems fairly accurate in a way that Xena and Hercules aren't always. Her books make me want to go out and buy a book on ancient history and dive in headfirst. At first I was wondering if I shot myself in the foot reading the other Dark Hunter books first, but I'm glad I hadn't read this one. It gave me something to tide me over until Night Play comes out in August. This book has so many layers. I enjoyed the romance but also there was a family drama played out through Julian's relations...

I read Lawless a couple of weeks ago. It was wonderful and engrossing. Diana Palmer just gets better and better. I love her ability to make us fall in love with her characters, flaws and all. I enjoyed Christabel and Judd, but I especially love Cash Grier. He's such an amazing character. He's got a seductive, enigmatic air. He also had a tenderness about him that was appealing. I must admit for a little while, I was more enamored of Chrissy and Cash as a couple then Judd and Chrissy, but eventually Judd proved his worthiness. Thanks to the little tidbits about Cash, I am doing something I rarely do. I'm going to buy a hardcover book, Renegade. This is Cash Grier's story and I must have it. I know it's expensive, but Cash is worth it, and I'm dying to read his story and see him get his happy ending with Tippy, who was briefly introduced in Lawless. Lawless had wonderful exposition, storytelling, and sensuality. There's definitely something about...

Elements that I love in Romance Novels 1.Tortured heroes/heroines that overcome their demons in a realistic way and find someone who loves them and respects them despite their infirmities. 2.Scarred/flawed heroes/heroines. 3.A pure, true love story at the heart of the romance with a sensuality that evolves out of a deep, lasting connection between the hero and heroine. 4.Lots of interesting secondary characters with potential for their own stories. 5.Great conflict-internal or external. 6.A wonderful, rip-roaring adventure tale intermingled in a beautiful love story. 7.Virginal hero/heroine 8.Warriors or ex-warriors 9.Educated, intelligent heroes/heroines who get to solve problems and help people. 10.Pregnancies. I love books that have these! I think it's very much part of the happy ever after fantasy. 11.Men who are great fathers or who are wonderful with their children. 12.Beta heroes. I love them. Caring men who are masculine but not arrogant or overbearing. 13....

My Romance Novel Pet-Peeves 1.Rakes with no reason d' etre-just sleazy men sleeping with anything in a skirt. And the heroine is just panting for them. Did it ever occur to the heroine that it's really gross that this guy slept with half the ton, or town? 2.Really mean heroes who treat heroines like crap. Uber-alpha hero. 3.Stupid, silly heroines who mindlessly go from one scrape to another. Women are just as intelligent and capable as men are, and even if we need to be saved, it doesn't have to be because we need a keeper. 4.Transplanted modern-day heroes and heroines in a period piece. Please try to make the dialogue and behavior fit the period! 5.Rape between hero and heroine (Seduction is okay). 6.The Secret Baby. So tired! 7.When the characters think they just want to sleep together and never envision a future until practically the end of the book. 8.Adultery--The big no-no! Instant wallbanger if one of the characters cheat on the other! I grit my t...

You know I ought to be better about editing my blogs because I realized that I listed the wrong book by Jill Gregory as most disappointing read, which I later decided was superceded by Out of Sight by Cherry Adair. It was actually Cold Night, Warm Stranger. D-Oh!!

My Desert Island Books 1.The Shadow and The Star by Laura Kinsale 2.Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale 3.Rules of Engagement by Christina Dodd 4.A Well-Pleasured Lady by Christina Dodd 5.Lone Rider by Lauren Bach 6.The Mercenary by Cherry Adair 7.Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas 8.The Texan's Wager by Jodi Thomas 9.Night Fever by Susan Kyle (Diana Palmer) 10.The Last Mercenary by Diana Palmer 11.Enamored by Diana Palmer 12.Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor 13.Taming the Scotsman by Kinley MacGregor 14.Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon 15.Mackenzie's Mountain by Linda Howard 16.Night Shadow by Laura Renken 17.My Lord Pirate by Laura Renken 18.Forbidden by Jo Beverley 19.Perils Of The Heart by Jennifer Ashley 20.A Heart So Wild by Johanna Lindsey 21.Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase 22.Angels Wings by Anne Stuart 23.Ritual Sins by Anne Stuart 24.Lord of Danger by Anne Stuart 25.A Rose at Midnight by Anne Stuart 26.The Soldier and The Baby by Anne Stua...

I thought I'd take a page from the AAR (All About Romance) site and give you a short overview of my romance reading tastes. Favorite Romance: Seize the Fire by Laura Kinsale Favorite Romance Author: Anne Stuart Christina Dodd Favorite Funny: Lady Be Good by Susan Elizabeth Phillips Most-Hanky Read: tie between Never Love a Cowboy by Lorraine Heath and Dance With The Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon Most Luscious Love Story: Anything by Lisa Kleypas Most Tortured Hero: Zarek from Dance With the Devil Feistiest Heroine: Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase Favorite Hero: three way tie between Samuel Gerard from The Shadow and The Star, Zarek from Dance With The Devil and Carter McKoy from The Texan's Wager Favorite Heroine: Jessica Trent from Lord of Scoundrels Favorite Couple: tie between Jessica Trent and Sebastian Ballister from Lord of Scoundrels and Bailee and Carter McKoy from The Texan's Wager Favorite Family: The Drakes by Laura Renken Mo...

Why I like virgin characters in my romances I know that some readers are weary and disgusted with the innocent virgin heroine. I don't feel that way. In fact, I prefer virgin heroines, and even virgin heroes. I even seek them out. I think that a virgin character can serve as a blank canvas, if you will, for the romantic feelings of love that we read romances for. It's all new and fresh, and we get to walk on the journey along with them. Isn't that the true fantasy of romance? You meet the person you are supposed to spend your life with and fall in love, in bed and in bliss and live happily ever after? Well that's my vision of romantic love. Don't get my wrong, I have read lots of books with non-virginal characters that I liked. But if that character is a virgin, it's all the more special to me. Let's discuss some arguments again virginal characters: 1)Nobody is a virgin anymore, so it's not realistic: This is blatantly false. I know quit...

My Favorite Authors I love to read, obviously. There are some writers that I flock to as often as possible because they particularly do a good job at making reading a pleasure. This authors are master artists at the written word, in my opinion. They create characters that are enduring and endearing at the same time. These characters may be and often are deeply flawed but more lovable for their character failings. But the writer uses them skillfully to tell a story and to entertain the reader. Most of these authors write in the romance genre. And the remainders are likely to be found in the horror or science fiction genre. A couple write thrillers or action adventures. But the thing they have in common most of all is that they have earned my respect and admiration as writers and the dubious honor to make it on my list of favorite authors. 1.Anne Stuart--the best of all time!!! 2.Christina Dodd 3.Diana Palmer 4.Lisa Kleypas 5.Laura Kinsale 6.Connie Brockway 7.Catherine Anderson...

I wanted to veer off subject and discuss my addiction...Books. My room is overflowing with them. I have probably several hundreds in that entity that us bookworms know as a To Be Read Pile or TBR pile for short. A thousand I have read but I cannot bear to be parted with. I have no room to buy new ones, but I will. Why can't I stop? This is a double-edged sword. Because I am glad that there are always new stories to be told, but at the same time if I didn't get the urge to read more books because I like the story or plot, then I would have a lot more money and room. I suppose there are worse addictions, but I feel guilty when I take a pile of books to the counter at the bookstore. Even at the ubs where the owner own's 4000 of her own, I still feel like a person who lacks self-control, a spendthrift, a frivolous person. I pray about it, and I ask God to forgive my materialism, this terrible urge to buy and collect books, but I cannot help it. If I have a bad day at...

I was at one of my favorite places, Barnes and Noble and I saw this book that was called 1000 Movies You Should See Before You Die and it inspired this blog. It will probably take some time, but I want to list my 1000 (or close to that) that I recommend seeing before you die. Here goes nothing... 1.Armageddon 2.Mulan 3.Van Helsing 4.Bram Stoker's Dracula 5.The Mummy 6.The Mummy Returns 7.Room With A View 8.Lady Jane 9.Kiss The Girls 10.Deep Blue Sea 11.Rebecca 12.Topper Returns 13.Arsenic and Old Lace 14.The Long Hot Summer 15.Cat on A Hot Tin Roof 16.The Time Machine (both versions) 17.The Shadow 18.Mystery Men 19.Better Off Dead 20.Shag 21.The Rundown 22.My Chauffeur 23.Valley Girl 24.Sixteen Candles 25.The Breakfast Club 26.Original Sin 27.The 13th Warrior 28.Sleepy Hollow 29.The Brotherhood of the Wolf (Le Pacte De Loups) 30.Peace Hotel 31.The Killer 32.Face/Off 33.Hardboiled 34.Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 35.So Close 36.The Transporter ...

I saw Van Helsing on Sunday, May 9 and I loved it. It was a totally engrossing visual feast. I thought the acting was great, the story, and the special effects. It all combined to make great movie entertainment. I definitely want to see more of these movies. I would also like if they had some books based on the Van Helsing character. I think that Stephen Sommers never lost that magic that us movie buffs develop as a child and often lose along the way. I think movies that are dramas or character studies are great. But movies like Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and Van Helsing are also important. I went to Barnes and Noble and bought Bram Stoker's Dracula to read. I had started it years ago but didn't finish it. But I definitely want to. I don't want to leave that universe behind. Well, anyway, on the radio they were saying the critics hated Van Helsing, and I can't fathom why. Oh well. To each their own. In my opinion, there wasn't a thing wrong. But I ca...

I just want you to know that I'm totally hooked on the Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter books. I've tried but I can't stop reading them. I'm on Kiss of the Night right now, and although Dance With the Devil is still my favorite, I love how each book reveals a new layer. Zarek's story made me sob. I wanted to ease all his pain. I have never been so glad for a happy ending. It's so terrible the cruelty that man is capable of. Zarek's whole life was misery upon misery. He was horribly beaten and scarred. Maimed even. It makes me cry to think about it. I know that Jesus would have enfolded him in His big arms and held him tight against his chest. The books have a lot of paganism in them, being as they are based on ancient mythology. For myself as a Christian this is a different world. I'm glad that I have my background in mythology and watching Hercules and Xena or it would have turned me off. But one thing to say for the books, it has sparke...

Today I thought I'd talk about comic books. My Favorite Comic Book Characters. 10.Rogue 9.Storm 8.Batman 7.Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) 6.Blade 5.Deadpool 4.Daredevil 3.Elektra 2.Catwoman 1.Gambit Gambit makes number one because he's sexy and ambivalent. Blade is bad!!! Elektra is an assassin who twirls sais. Enough said. Deadpool is wonderfully sarcastic. Catwoman has been a villain and a hero. Daredevil takes the law to a new level. Plus he's sexy in read leather. And Ben played him in the movie. Storm is a role model for Black women everywhere. Lara Croft took Indiana Jones, made it XX chromosome and added more guns. Batman's just too cool for words. Rogue is Gambit's true love but also one touch senorita. I'm glad that we have good old comic books to translate into movies.