Free/Bargain Romances in May 2013

[FizzyWater]

Originally Posted by auntykatkat

I am going to have to finally read those Stephanie Plum books in my TBR pile. My J D Robb books can make me laugh, lift my spirits and generally leave me feeling better.

One of the things I love about the JD Robb series is the way you get to see the characters grow and change.

Do *not* expect the same for the Stephanie Plum books (with rare exceptions). I wish I'd known when I started the series that Evanovich was never going to let Steph grow up or choose her "forever guy". I stopped buying that after ... I think ... the 14th book. Stopped borrowing them after the 18th. It just drove me crazy that she's the same ditz - if not worse - that she was on day one. (There was one book where I thought - finally, she's showing that's she's learning and growing! - then the next book it was back to "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!"

I might have been able to enjoy them if I'd known going in to treat them like "I Love Lucy", but I built up too many expectations that never were realized and just ended up disgusted....

[auntykatkat]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

One of the things I love about the JD Robb series is the way you get to see the characters grow and change.

Do *not* expect the same for the Stephanie Plum books (with rare exceptions). I wish I'd known when I started the series that Evanovich was never going to let Steph grow up or choose her "forever guy". I stopped buying that after ... I think ... the 14th book. Stopped borrowing them after the 18th. It just drove me crazy that she's the same ditz - if not worse - that she was on day one. (There was one book where I thought - finally, she's showing that's she's learning and growing! - then the next book it was back to "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!"

I might have been able to enjoy them if I'd known going in to treat them like "I Love Lucy", but I built up too many expectations that never were realized and just ended up disgusted....

Thank you for the information. It will make a differance. You are right, that is another thing I get out of the series. All of them grow. They fight. They live. I won't come into it with any expectations.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by FizzyWater

One of the things I love about the JD Robb series is the way you get to see the characters grow and change.

Do *not* expect the same for the Stephanie Plum books (with rare exceptions). I wish I'd known when I started the series that Evanovich was never going to let Steph grow up or choose her "forever guy". I stopped buying that after ... I think ... the 14th book. Stopped borrowing them after the 18th. It just drove me crazy that she's the same ditz - if not worse - that she was on day one. (There was one book where I thought - finally, she's showing that's she's learning and growing! - then the next book it was back to "Lucy, you got some 'splaining to do!"

I might have been able to enjoy them if I'd known going in to treat them like "I Love Lucy", but I built up too many expectations that never were realized and just ended up disgusted....

I went into the series knowing there was no real characterization. I do treat them as I love Lucy episodes. Notorious Nineteen was a real let down but it had enough Ranger to keep me happy and we got to learn a little more about his Army days. My review for the book is here.

If you read the series you realize that the 12th book was probably the end to the series. I think the fans particularly Team Ranger fans couldn't accept it. So JE decided to keep the series going. It has been suggested the last few books have been written by her daughter or another ghostwriter. I tend to agree. There are too many inconsistencies. I did like 18 though but 19 was a step back.

I think she wants to end Plum series but she can't because of her publisher and her family. Right now her son is going through Leukemia I believe it is, so she just doesn't have the energy to write. Now I see the book The Heist is coming out. JE needs take a vacation and take care of herself. Book 20 will be out in November. I suspect it to be another ghostwrite.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by auntykatkat

Thank you for the information. It will make a differance. You are right, that is another thing I get out of the series. All of them grow. They fight. They live. I won't come into it with any expectations.

I think that is why I like the Plum series so much. It's a comedy mystery series with a never ending love triangle. It's alot like I love Lucy. Even Ranger's first name is Ricardo. However Morelli would be the one who waves his arms up and down and yells at her. Ranger is just to cool for that. She makes him mad out comes the handcuffs. *swoons*

[library addict]

I gave up on the series a long time ago. I was more of a Joe fan, but she has the guys act just as TSTL as Stephanie at times At this point I wish Joe and Ranger would ride off together

On a different subject, lots of romance authors who live in OK. I see that Jaci Burton is okay. Wondering about Jill Monroe and Merline Lovelace.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

On a different subject, lots of romance authors who live in OK. I see that Jaci Burton is okay. Wondering about Jill Monroe and Merline Lovelace.

Sharon Sala just posted she and her mama are okay! I ate a pint of Maple Macadamia Nut mashup Ice cream waiting for the news. I may just gained 5 pounds from it. *sigh* Any word from Amanda McCabe yet? So many authors to live in OK. Janis Reams Hudson I think lives in OKC as well.

[library addict]

Elle James and Silver James live there, too IIRC. But I'm not sure exactly what part of the state they are in.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Elle James and Silver James live there, too IIRC. But I'm not sure exactly what part of the state they are in.

Amanda McCabe just posted she wasn't in the path but it was scary day but she is okay. The Twister touch down in Moore where Sharon Sala lives. I use to know someone who lived there when the other twister in 1999 hit. She now lives in Reno or I'd still be worried.

[library addict]

Jill Monroe tweeted earlier she could see the tornado was on her street. I know Merline Lovelace lives in OK City. I'm totally unfamiliar with the area to know which part of the city she's in.

And I turned the TV off.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Jill Monroe tweeted earlier she could see the tornado was on her street. I know Merline Lovelace lives in OK City. I'm totally unfamiliar with the area to know which part of the city she's in.

And I turned the TV off.

Okay now another author to worry about. I remember when we had one come down the street I grew up on. I've been in too many that I've tried to move away from them. They are rare here in the mountains but they do happen. So when it hit back in 2011 no one knew what to do. Alot of Mobile homes here and people just didn't understand why you don't stay in them during a tornado. Now we have classes and people know what to do if one should happen again.

I can't watch the news. I will eat another pint of Maple ice cream if I do.

[library addict]

Saw on twitter that both Jill Monroe and Gena Showalter and their families are okay.

Still no word about Merline Lovelace. Of course, she may be on vacation and not even at home. I have no idea.

[Blossom]

I have a question for those of you who read historical romance or just are general history buffs.

In the arc book I'm reading to review, the heroine is referred to as underage and young. She is 26! Now please tell me I'm wrong but in 1867 wouldn't she be considered a old and a spinster?

This is a after civil war romance. The hero who considers himself much older is 28 and runs a riverboat.

I'm having such a hard time with this seeing most historicals I've read the heroine is usually 17 to 21 and the hero is in his 30s.

I've read about spinsters heroines before but they're usually 25 to 30. I'm confused so help!

What age did a woman become a old maid or spinsters in the late 1800s?

[library addict]

I'm not an expert by any means, but I would think mid-twenties for a woman was considered old maid territory. Certainly not underage or young.

ETA: There's some interesting info here http://www.faqs.org/childhood/Ke-Me/...n-and-the.html apparently after the Civil War the age at which people could marrry was raised from 12 for girls to 16 and from 14 to 18 for boys. So 26 would be well into adulthood.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I'm not an expert by any means, but I would think mid-twenties for a woman was considered old maid territory. Certainly not underage or young.

ETA: There's some interesting info here http://www.faqs.org/childhood/Ke-Me/...n-and-the.html apparently after the Civil War the age at which people could marrry was raised from 12 for girls to 16 and from 14 to 18 for boys. So 26 would be well into adulthood.

I'm still baffled. I realize this is a ARC copy so maybe the age is fixed in the final version. Now I relooked on the first page it says she cut 20 years of hair so I bet it's a misprint. So it would make more sense she is 20 not 26. I knew something was off.

So I guess the question is what age did a woman come of age back then in 1867?

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Saw on twitter that both Jill Monroe and Gena Showalter and their families are okay.

Still no word about Merline Lovelace. Of course, she may be on vacation and not even at home. I have no idea.

Oh so relieved Jill Monroe is okay. I mean if you can see the tornado you're usually in serious trouble.

Wow so many talented authors in OK.