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Monday, December 20, 2010
I Love A Lass by Elizabeth Cadell
"But now here she was in Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. Already two men were competing for the pleasure of introducing her to the gay night life of the island."
Childish I know, but the image of a good 1960s girl visiting a bunch of gay night clubs, entertained me for quite a while.
And sometimes, just plain interesting to me, today that is the blurb for I Love A Lass by Elizabeth Cadell:
"The bright young creatures who inhabit Elizabeth Cadell's special world have never been more charming than in this gay, light-hearted story of doubtful doings in France.
And, as ever, the generations are no problem for Mes. Cadell, whose winning books are the more appealing for their well-mannered warfare between the age groups. Thus a very old lady and a very young boy are as important to this double love affair as salt and pepper are to a proper lunch.
The lovers themselves are splendid Cadell characters: Sebastian, a rich young English bachelor who has spent his life driving fast cars and dodging hopeful mothers; his friend, Joss, a quietly unorthodox good guy; and Jessica de Vries, a pleasant prospect for anybody's hand – or money.
First there is a strike, and Joss and Sebastian find themselves stranded in France. No car – no vacation!
Then alors! The Countess buys a taxi. What else? And who should drive it but these perfect strangers with their peculiar baggage.
An old chateau – the sunny summer charm of France – the pleasantly preposterous antics of young men in love – these combine to make this novel one of Mrs. Cadell's most successful recipes for reading pleasure."
PS. Typo of the day has to be me typing out I Love A Less in the title to this post. :D
Monday, December 6, 2010
Book Crack
Some people talk about JR Ward as their cracktastic author.. but for me, I have decided it is Jacquelyn Frank.
While I do not rush out and buy her books, once I stumble across some, I inhale them.. they are soo over the top and campy, she has to be writing with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek.. no?
Well that is how I choose to look at it, and the books so entertain me.
While I do not rush out and buy her books, once I stumble across some, I inhale them.. they are soo over the top and campy, she has to be writing with her tongue firmly planted in her cheek.. no?
Well that is how I choose to look at it, and the books so entertain me.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
News at the website..
I have finally managed to get the coupon mod I was after brought and installed, so now Girrlit's Books has free postage to Australian addresses on orders over $50.
And because I buy a lot from overseas and know well the frustration of high international postage, I've decided to have a discount ($10.30) on international parcels as well for orders over $50.
To gain the discount all you need to do is put the code frpo50 in the coupon section at the bottom of checkout.
And because I buy a lot from overseas and know well the frustration of high international postage, I've decided to have a discount ($10.30) on international parcels as well for orders over $50.
To gain the discount all you need to do is put the code frpo50 in the coupon section at the bottom of checkout.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Okay I have issues
And I am a cranky reader, with many issues.
I am also in a crankier than normal mood tonight. There is also a kind of spoiler below.
So you have been warned.
Now I love Nalini Singh and absolutely adore the psy/changeling series. But two of the recent books have really hit personal buttons with me.
I won't go too much into Mercy and Riley's book, which was a wallbanger for me, but it was read a while ago. I will simply say, that I was disappointed with how unequal some aspects of the relationship was, despite them being both of equal pack rank.
But Play of Passion, which I finished today, I just have to rant about.
Admittedly it took me a long time to read it as I took some baggage into it, I was struggling with left over issues from Mercy's book.. But I got through it in the end, and I thought Singh actually did a good job with many aspects of the power dynamic... even though I feel she wussed out and made Drew still dominant.
But then she lost me.
Apparently Drew is a super sekrit ALPHA alpha, who hasn't finished his "growing" into his dominance. WTF?
Seriously is it just that impossible in a romance novel to have a heroine be even the slightest bit more dominant than her hero??? (And let's face it, realistically he wasn't less dominant, there was just the illusion of it re. pack hierarchy, BUT NO we couldn't even have that!)
Head meet desk.
Then once I closed the book after the last page, with my buttons pushed, I started thinking back on the book. Now there are several instances where NS is blatantly pushing the okay for females not to be dominant, how all aspects needed in pack, with Indigo's mother, one of the teens, etc. Which is all well and good, even the maternal leanings of most of those gets past my (often militant feminist) radar, but then I realised... there are no examples of non-dominant males. Huh?
Is it not okay for a male to be non-dominant? Is it only maternal females that it is cool for???
Then I remembered the boy from the start of the book that Indigo and co were counselling, but I went back and in the final scene with him, there are the comparisons between him and the alpha, which kinda rules out him not being dominant..
So I was left with a big pile of WTF, all my hackles raised, and needing to rant.
(It probably a good thing, that this blog does not have any readers yet. *grin*)
As a fellow reader pointed out, it is escapism, bluh, bluh.. but STILL!
And yes, I know that was mature. *rolls eyes* I just disagree that I am actually fully coming at this from my Women's Studies background, (though I acknowledge that it is part of the equation) it is also coming from me as an escapist reader. I do not find it romantic when the power dynamic is so often unequal, it just pulls me out of believing in the happy ending in many ways.
And it confounds me that it is acceptable to have a hero be so much more dominant/powerful than a heroine, but you can't even have a heroine even the slightest bit more dominant than a hero??
And that it is always stressed so??
Now this is a regular rant of mine, and some have argued that the women are often not weaker, they keep them in line maternally or emotionally, or whatever, but why can't this be flipped around to the bloke? Why can't he provide this role, and the female be dominant?
And how typical, that my first decent sized post on this blog, is a complete and utter rant, which probably makes little to no sense.
Maybe I'll edit it tomorrow, when I have calmed down a little.
PS. I don't mean to bag out Nalini completely, this is an issue I have with a LOT of books from the genre. She just has the misfortune of being an auto-buy author, with two recent releases which have hit my buttons completely, so she catches the brunt.
PPS. Play of Passion is actually a fun read, and if you do not have my baggage, which would be most of the world it is an awesome book you should enjoy. As usual Nalini Singh's world-building and characters rock.
I am also in a crankier than normal mood tonight. There is also a kind of spoiler below.
So you have been warned.
Now I love Nalini Singh and absolutely adore the psy/changeling series. But two of the recent books have really hit personal buttons with me.
I won't go too much into Mercy and Riley's book, which was a wallbanger for me, but it was read a while ago. I will simply say, that I was disappointed with how unequal some aspects of the relationship was, despite them being both of equal pack rank.
But Play of Passion, which I finished today, I just have to rant about.
Admittedly it took me a long time to read it as I took some baggage into it, I was struggling with left over issues from Mercy's book.. But I got through it in the end, and I thought Singh actually did a good job with many aspects of the power dynamic... even though I feel she wussed out and made Drew still dominant.
But then she lost me.
Apparently Drew is a super sekrit ALPHA alpha, who hasn't finished his "growing" into his dominance. WTF?
Seriously is it just that impossible in a romance novel to have a heroine be even the slightest bit more dominant than her hero??? (And let's face it, realistically he wasn't less dominant, there was just the illusion of it re. pack hierarchy, BUT NO we couldn't even have that!)
Head meet desk.
Then once I closed the book after the last page, with my buttons pushed, I started thinking back on the book. Now there are several instances where NS is blatantly pushing the okay for females not to be dominant, how all aspects needed in pack, with Indigo's mother, one of the teens, etc. Which is all well and good, even the maternal leanings of most of those gets past my (often militant feminist) radar, but then I realised... there are no examples of non-dominant males. Huh?
Is it not okay for a male to be non-dominant? Is it only maternal females that it is cool for???
Then I remembered the boy from the start of the book that Indigo and co were counselling, but I went back and in the final scene with him, there are the comparisons between him and the alpha, which kinda rules out him not being dominant..
So I was left with a big pile of WTF, all my hackles raised, and needing to rant.
(It probably a good thing, that this blog does not have any readers yet. *grin*)
As a fellow reader pointed out, it is escapism, bluh, bluh.. but STILL!
And yes, I know that was mature. *rolls eyes* I just disagree that I am actually fully coming at this from my Women's Studies background, (though I acknowledge that it is part of the equation) it is also coming from me as an escapist reader. I do not find it romantic when the power dynamic is so often unequal, it just pulls me out of believing in the happy ending in many ways.
And it confounds me that it is acceptable to have a hero be so much more dominant/powerful than a heroine, but you can't even have a heroine even the slightest bit more dominant than a hero??
And that it is always stressed so??
Now this is a regular rant of mine, and some have argued that the women are often not weaker, they keep them in line maternally or emotionally, or whatever, but why can't this be flipped around to the bloke? Why can't he provide this role, and the female be dominant?
And how typical, that my first decent sized post on this blog, is a complete and utter rant, which probably makes little to no sense.
Maybe I'll edit it tomorrow, when I have calmed down a little.
PS. I don't mean to bag out Nalini completely, this is an issue I have with a LOT of books from the genre. She just has the misfortune of being an auto-buy author, with two recent releases which have hit my buttons completely, so she catches the brunt.
PPS. Play of Passion is actually a fun read, and if you do not have my baggage, which would be most of the world it is an awesome book you should enjoy. As usual Nalini Singh's world-building and characters rock.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Random shout out for cat lovers in Melbourne
The Cat Protection Society, Greensborough are on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/CPSvictoria
Seriously if you are ever after a kittie, I can not recommend these guys enough.
Here is their website:
http://www.catprotection.com.au/
That is where the bookcat came from
Seriously if you are ever after a kittie, I can not recommend these guys enough.
Here is their website:
http://www.catprotection.com.au/
That is where the bookcat came from
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Another ummm interesting cover.
I'm not sure whether I am more disturbed by the heroine or the hero on this cover...
While the heroine looks terminally ill, the red-headed hero looks like a professor I had at uni, who was in his sixties.
It is just awkward.. and gloomy... and disturbing.
Especially when you factor in the cheery type from the front cover: "If you reach for the stars, your hands may remain empty." Doctor on the Snow by Leslie Lance.
Monday, November 15, 2010
I have run out of tubs..
Which means it is time to have a sale at girrlitsbooks.com.au
Though I just brought a massive bookshelf, which will help with some of the storage problems.. but really, why do I only seem to move ten books from each tub?? I know there are seventy-five tubs to choose from.. but hey.
Yes I have too much stock.
Though I just brought a massive bookshelf, which will help with some of the storage problems.. but really, why do I only seem to move ten books from each tub?? I know there are seventy-five tubs to choose from.. but hey.
Yes I have too much stock.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Seriously
If you have not read the Mercy Thompson series, what is stopping you??
I have gotten no work done for two days.. as I found some of the Patricia Briggs in a stack.
Mercy is awesome, that is all.
I have gotten no work done for two days.. as I found some of the Patricia Briggs in a stack.
Mercy is awesome, that is all.
Friday, November 5, 2010
When was the last time..
You heard a romance hero referred to as "a spoilt and sheltered artist"??
The bleak wilds of Yorkshire in February are not an appealing destination by any standards and to Julian Hurst, a sheltered and spoilt artist from London, the prospect was daunting. Furthermore, on his arrival at the house where he was to catalogue a collection of paintings, he made two disconcerting discoveries... He found that the owner, a miserly old man, rationed the coal for heating what was, in Julian's view the coldest, gloomiest mausoleum he had ever encountered. Next he met the cook, a pretty young lady named Alexandra Bell with whom he was forced to bargain for the very blankets on his bed.
For the first time in his life, Julian Hurst suddenly found himself accepting defeat in the face of a pair of cool blue eyes that seemed to be laughing at him...
The Cuckoo in Spring by Elizabeth Cadell here
The bleak wilds of Yorkshire in February are not an appealing destination by any standards and to Julian Hurst, a sheltered and spoilt artist from London, the prospect was daunting. Furthermore, on his arrival at the house where he was to catalogue a collection of paintings, he made two disconcerting discoveries... He found that the owner, a miserly old man, rationed the coal for heating what was, in Julian's view the coldest, gloomiest mausoleum he had ever encountered. Next he met the cook, a pretty young lady named Alexandra Bell with whom he was forced to bargain for the very blankets on his bed.
For the first time in his life, Julian Hurst suddenly found himself accepting defeat in the face of a pair of cool blue eyes that seemed to be laughing at him...
The Cuckoo in Spring by Elizabeth Cadell here
Monday, November 1, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Current lunch hour read
My current lunch hour read is Death Most Definite by Trent Jamieson.
Steven de Selby's day had started ordinarily enough - a routine funeral visit (all in a day's work for one of Death's minions), followed by a trip to the local mall.
But then the dead girl appeared - standing right in front of him, where she wasn't supposed to be, warning him to run. And then the gunshots began.
Unfortunately for Steven, this is only the beginning of his problems. It seems that his coworkers are being killed off, enabling the undead to proliferate. He also has to travel down into the underworld and avoid getting shot at - all while suffering from the most horrific hangover.
And it seems that Steven will be the only one who can prevent the coming apocalypse, since Death himself has gone missing...
While it is a little slow, I am actually enjoying the voice of the book, it is very Australian and interesting.
Trent's Blog: http://www.trentjamieson.com/?page_id=52
Steven de Selby's day had started ordinarily enough - a routine funeral visit (all in a day's work for one of Death's minions), followed by a trip to the local mall.
But then the dead girl appeared - standing right in front of him, where she wasn't supposed to be, warning him to run. And then the gunshots began.
Unfortunately for Steven, this is only the beginning of his problems. It seems that his coworkers are being killed off, enabling the undead to proliferate. He also has to travel down into the underworld and avoid getting shot at - all while suffering from the most horrific hangover.
And it seems that Steven will be the only one who can prevent the coming apocalypse, since Death himself has gone missing...
While it is a little slow, I am actually enjoying the voice of the book, it is very Australian and interesting.
Trent's Blog: http://www.trentjamieson.com/?page_id=52
Monday, October 18, 2010
The Hunt
My favourite part of being a dealer in second hand books?
The Hunt.
I love trawling through markets, book shops, online and about everywhere I go hunting for hard to find, old, or just plain popular books.
It is my nirvana, I get to spend hours looking at books, reading blurbs, hunting through dusty shelves, to squeal with delight when I find a long out of print book that is worth a pretty penny. Though to be honest, I also squeal when I find a nice stack of Amanda Quicks all in the one place.
I am an equal opportunity book squealer.
While there has been several times I have been tempted to give the books up, mainly for external reasons, I just can not give up the hunt.
The Hunt.
I love trawling through markets, book shops, online and about everywhere I go hunting for hard to find, old, or just plain popular books.
It is my nirvana, I get to spend hours looking at books, reading blurbs, hunting through dusty shelves, to squeal with delight when I find a long out of print book that is worth a pretty penny. Though to be honest, I also squeal when I find a nice stack of Amanda Quicks all in the one place.
I am an equal opportunity book squealer.
While there has been several times I have been tempted to give the books up, mainly for external reasons, I just can not give up the hunt.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
I warned you didn't I?
That I was going to be terrible at this blogging thing, didn't I??
But I have had several deliveries of books lately.. including Meljean Brook's steampunk, Eve Silver, Nalini Singh and more!
Can you blame me for not blogging??
But I have had several deliveries of books lately.. including Meljean Brook's steampunk, Eve Silver, Nalini Singh and more!
Can you blame me for not blogging??
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Another slack post
I have just listed one of my more recent fave romances from Samhain Publishing Steel Beauty by Dana Marie Bell in the book Animal Attraction.
Dana Marie Bell can make me laugh out loud while reading, which makes me very happy. And this book is my fave in the Halle Pumas series, so when I saw them available in print I had to get some copies so I could try to peddle it to others. ;)
Dana Marie Bell can make me laugh out loud while reading, which makes me very happy. And this book is my fave in the Halle Pumas series, so when I saw them available in print I had to get some copies so I could try to peddle it to others. ;)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Straight book pimping
It's not even related to the website, as I have already sold my copies of these books, but really if you haven't read Eve Silver or under her other name Eve Kenin.. get hopping and read them!
Action packed paranormals with great characters, I love her heroines. Good strong ladies who can kick butt when needed.
You might have to find the Eve Kenin series secondhand as they were part of the Dorchester Shomi line, Driven etc. But her Otherkin series under the name Eve Silver through Harlequin are all available. And they good!
Action packed paranormals with great characters, I love her heroines. Good strong ladies who can kick butt when needed.
You might have to find the Eve Kenin series secondhand as they were part of the Dorchester Shomi line, Driven etc. But her Otherkin series under the name Eve Silver through Harlequin are all available. And they good!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hi my name is Edie, and I am a voracious romance reader, whose addiction grew into a business, it is amazing what can happen when you look around for ways to fund your book buying addictions. LOL
While I started out casually on ebay in 2002, it has now grown to where I have my own website with over 5,400 books on it, and an over-flowing storage unit and house full of books.
Blatant Pimpage: the website is Girrlit's Books, an Australian secondhand romance book website (with the odd new books included) based out of Melbourne, where I try to carry a wide range of all varieties - genres of romance books. Everything from vintage Woman's Weekly series from the sixties to eighties, category romances from Loveswept to Mills and Boon, as well as everything from contemporaries to paranormal (with everything in-between) single romance titles.
But it is a labour of love, I get to deal with fun and interesting books, meet lovely people online and justifiably spend time buying books and reading! What more could a bookaholic ask for?
My main reading weaknesses are paranormal romance and urban fantasy, with the all time favourite authors being Shelly Laurenston and Jim Butcher. In other categories I also have a soft spot for Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Meredith Webber and some early Susan Napiers.
So there you have a brief introduction to me and what my life revolves around, I guess I should say what I plan to be blathering about in this blog?
I have decided to blog for several reasons, so I can rant and rave about my favourite romance books, find like minded audience who share the rom love, sharpen my writing skills, (as you may have noticed from this post, they are RUSTY) as well as some general website pimpage, including competitions.
Things I hope to do:
Pimp favourite covers and share some of the old shockers
Reviews of out of print romance books – or just books that move me.
Share the genre love and try to convince people to try them and-or authors they might not have come across yet.
Though as the original procrastinating queen, I can't guarantee how often I will be blogging, but hopefully, now that I have actually started I will manage it semi-regularly.
While I started out casually on ebay in 2002, it has now grown to where I have my own website with over 5,400 books on it, and an over-flowing storage unit and house full of books.
Blatant Pimpage: the website is Girrlit's Books, an Australian secondhand romance book website (with the odd new books included) based out of Melbourne, where I try to carry a wide range of all varieties - genres of romance books. Everything from vintage Woman's Weekly series from the sixties to eighties, category romances from Loveswept to Mills and Boon, as well as everything from contemporaries to paranormal (with everything in-between) single romance titles.
But it is a labour of love, I get to deal with fun and interesting books, meet lovely people online and justifiably spend time buying books and reading! What more could a bookaholic ask for?
My main reading weaknesses are paranormal romance and urban fantasy, with the all time favourite authors being Shelly Laurenston and Jim Butcher. In other categories I also have a soft spot for Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Meredith Webber and some early Susan Napiers.
So there you have a brief introduction to me and what my life revolves around, I guess I should say what I plan to be blathering about in this blog?
I have decided to blog for several reasons, so I can rant and rave about my favourite romance books, find like minded audience who share the rom love, sharpen my writing skills, (as you may have noticed from this post, they are RUSTY) as well as some general website pimpage, including competitions.
Things I hope to do:
Pimp favourite covers and share some of the old shockers
Reviews of out of print romance books – or just books that move me.
Share the genre love and try to convince people to try them and-or authors they might not have come across yet.
Though as the original procrastinating queen, I can't guarantee how often I will be blogging, but hopefully, now that I have actually started I will manage it semi-regularly.
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