Maybe it’s me.

I am reading Olivia Cunning’s Backstage Pass. One of the readers I follow on GoodReads gave it a great rating, so I thought I would check out reviews. The first review I read said that it was free earlier this week. I immediately checked out the price from my distributor, and it was still free (to celebrate the release of her second book). Anyway . . .
This book is ALL sex. I can’t even think of a single moment that was not about having sex – and it is not just between the hero and heroine. It is just a little much for me.
That being said, it was a mass market book for average price originally. I really was not expecting this.
GoodReads readers rated this book really high.
I am sorry . . . but to me this does not compare to authors like Pamela Clare or Julie James. That being said, I have no finished and I will continuing reading it.

Cast Off: Julie James

I am excited to share that on late Monday night / early Tuesday morning, I got my copy of Julie James’ A Lot Like Love. To say I was looking forward to this book would be an understatement. I was thrilled when I heard that James had a new novel coming out. I was thrilled with the final results and I am trying to figure out why.

For the record, prior to read the awesome A Lot Like Love, I went back and reread Just the Sexiest Man Alive, Practice Makes Perfect, and Someone Like You.

The fact of the matter is that James does not write complicated plot. In fact, she writes rather simple ones actual (so simple, in fact, that sometimes I can’t help but think how this is a whole novel). Where James excels (farther than a lot of writers) is in her characters and dialogue. She writes relatively smart characters. Sure, they have their hands in some misunderstanding, but overall they are not dumb people. Also, pretty much all of her characters are witty. It’s exciting to read. They also all have an edge. You know how I was complaining about how Susan Elizabeth Phillips writes the same character over and over again in all her books? Well, I was trying to figure out if this was the case with James. I can’t really get the feeling that it is (though, in James’ case I want to be the female lead, not throttle her!), but I am worried that she is writing very similar characters in each book.

One really cool thing that James does, that not many authors are currently doing, is that she dates her books. In A Lot Like Love, Jordan’s brother Kyle is in prison for shutting down a very influntual website. You immediately think, oh shot! He hacked into the CIA (or, you know, something of that magnitude). Nope. He shut down Twitter. Frankly, it was hilarious. I really hate when people give more away than the back of the book already told, so I am not going to go further. Just go out! Get yourself a copy. It will be well worth it!

Also, I read James’ February 13th blog entry. She had a really cool fan make a movie poster for her first novel, Just the Sexiest Man Alive (which was original written to be a movie). At her suggestion I was trying to figure out who I would cast in the roles.

Here is who I am actually imagining, though I am not always 100% on with the character descriptions.

Just the Sexiest Man Alive
Taylor: Ginnifer Goodwin
Jason: Bradley Cooper
Jeremy: Jeremy Piven
Scott: Chad Michael Murray (Goodness, that man gives me a headache)

Practice Makes Perfect
Payton: Stephanie Gatschet
J.D.: Ryan Reynolds


Someone Like You
Cameron: Tara Reid
Jack: Jordi Vilasuso

A Lot Like Love
Jordan: Kaley Cuoco
Nick: Wentworth Miller
Kyle: Josh Duhamel

I would love to see who you all pick!

Love, Adrienne

Some Trips are Just Worth the Time . . .

Is it March 1st yet? The NEW Julie James novel is coming out!!!! I can’t wait! I love her writing, characters and voice.

So, I was reading a lot this week. I started Worth the Trip, buy Penny McCall. I am not sure where I stand on this issue, but do you think that in order to read a series, you need to read the ENTIRE series?

I love the character of Trip Jones, but I loved him in the earlier novel he appeared in as well. I love, love, love Norah. I did not expect to, but I walked away really loving her character. Anyway, the fact is, the Trip that I read in her earlier works would not have even fallen for a woman like Norah.

So I guess the point I am trying to make is what if prior experience with a character hinders the overall novel? Is that really far to readers? It is obvious that regardless of where you stand on whether or not Worth the Trip was a good novel, you will say that Trip was definitely unexpected.

On another positive note, Jack and Aubrey from All Jacked Up, appeared in the novel, briefly, as well. They were so freaking cute.

On an irritating note, what is with Worth the Trip’s sex scenes all being exactly one page? And completely out of the blue? Did anyone else feel irked by this?

Anyway, for some great romantic suspense, check Penny McCall. I own all of her books and love to read them!


PS: FIVE DAYS until Julie's A Lot Like Love! Seriously. Can. Not. Wait.

Love, Adrienne

It Was SIX DEGREES OUT Today

This week I have not been concentrating on my writing. Boo. . .

I have been reading and applying for jobs! And I found one job that I really, really, REALLY want.

There are also some books coming out that I want as well. I mean, I am so looking forward to these. I thought I would share.

A Lot Like Love by Julie James (EEE!!!)
March 1, 2011

The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis
March 29, 2011

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson
April 26, 2011

Breaking Point by Pamela Clare
May 3, 2011

Can't Hurry Love by Christie Ridgway
July 5, 2011

Playing Dirty by Susan Anderson

July 26, 2011

So that's it . . . SIX novels that I am anxiously awaiting. I am interested to see if you have any suggestions for me. Or if you might be waiting for some books of your own. Share! Share!