FREE/BARGAIN - Romance + Discussion - 2014

[Blue2u]

$1.00 Dangerous to Know and Love - Jane Harvey-Berrick
Another author that is auto-buy for me, although I haven't read this one yet usually her books are 3.5-4.5 IMO, and this one seems NA, not contemporary as some of hers are.

About:
Nineteen year old Daniel Colton is the guy all the girls want to date, and the man all the guys want to be. Moody, with an explosive temper, closed off and sullen, he’s also beautiful, tatted in delicious ways, with a pierced eyebrow and spiky black hair. It’s rumoured he has piercings in other places, too. Is he really mad, bad and dangerous to know?

Daniel lives with his older brother, Zef, and their home is party central. You want drugs, a good time, liquor, no questions asked? Colton’s is the place to go.

When Daniel and good girl Lisanne Maclaine have to work on together on assignment, Lisanne finds there’s a lot more to the college’s bad boy than his reputation. He’s intelligent and funny and good company. And then she discovers his secret, why he’s so closed off to everyone, and determined to keep people at arms’ length. But being his secret-keeper is harder than she ever dreamed.


Recommended for readers 18+ due to sexual references and sex scenes, some coarse language, drug references and drug use.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I think everyone is use to her complex writing style so when she writes a normal NA type book people were expecting it to follow that pattern. I think it's great she is so versatile in her writing. I am getting it through Lending as I want to read it.

I would not describe the book as NA at all. The hero is 27 and the heroine is 24. He's already super successful and she's well-past college graduation and a few years into her career as a librarian. I know people vary on what they consider New Adult, but this book didn't meet any of the criteria I've seen bandied about the past few years. This book is a straight up contemporary romance.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I would not describe the book as NA at all. The hero is 27 and the heroine is 24. He's already super successful and she's well-past college graduation and a few years into her career as a librarian. I know people vary on what they consider New Adult, but this book didn't meet any of the criteria I've seen bandied about the past few years. This book is a straight up contemporary romance.

I still consider it NA because it follows the NA pattern even if everyone is older. There really needs to be a new name for these types of books what started out as NA has grown into something else but it's not mainstream romance as we knew it. KA isn't NA but she fits the pattern too. Indie romance is too broad of a term to use now as well.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I still consider it NA because it follows the NA pattern even if everyone is older. There really needs to be a new name for these types of books what started out as NA has grown into something else but it's not mainstream romance as we knew it. KA isn't NA but she fits the pattern too. Indie romance is too broad of a term to use now as well.

I thought the pattern in NA was the h/h learning to be independent and on their own for the first time. I can see college set romances as being NA. Or even some just after college romances. But this read a lot like her old Silhouette Desire romances or many other straight contemps by other authors. I would categorize them by the plot's genre/subgenre regardless if the book is self-pubbed or main stream pubbed.

I've read some NA. Not a lot because I get rather irritated with the stupidity of some of the characters so it's really not the subgenre for me. But I have enjoyed some of the NA books I've read.

I am curious what you think makes it NA?

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by library addict

I've read some NA. Not a lot because I get rather irritated with the stupidity of some of the characters so it's really not the subgenre for me.

New Adult = Annoyingly immature and naive adults?

I'm mainly joking, just because I'm enjoying seeing someone echo my sentiments. Frankly, I can't stand most of the NA genre because I spend my time reading the books wanting to yell at the characters for being such self-centered idiots. Ironically, when I encounter well written naive and/or immature characters in other genres, they don't bother me nearly as much.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

I thought the pattern in NA was the h/h learning to be independent and on their own for the first time. I can see college set romances as being NA. Or even some just after college romances. But this read a lot like her old Silhouette Desire romances or many other straight contemps by other authors. I would categorize them by the plot's genre/subgenre regardless if the book is self-pubbed or main stream pubbed.

I've read some NA. Not a lot because I get rather irritated with the stupidity of some of the characters so it's really not the subgenre for me. But I have enjoyed some of the NA books I've read.

I am curious what you think makes it NA?

NA started the hero jerk famous pattern. It all started with books like 50 Shades, Thoughtless... just to name a few. It's all about hero jerks or heroine jerks who torture each other. They are full of angst and don't follow any mainstream romance pattern. They are written to target the NA audience because that's what NA readers want. Whatever age Characters are no longer matters. It's not about coming of age or being independent. It's about being messed up and messing up others in the process.

This does not follow the mainstream romance where people redeem themselves or do their best trying.

I'm not saying Singh's book is real NA but you can tell by the cover she wrote it to target those type of readers.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

NA started the hero jerk famous pattern. It all started with books like 50 Shades, Thoughtless... just to name a few. It's all about hero jerks or heroine jerks who torture each other. They full angst and don't follow any mainstream romance pattern. They are written to target the NA audience because that's what NA readers want. Whatever age Characters are no longer matters. It's not about coming of age or being independent. It's about being messed up and messing up others in the process.

This does not follow the mainstream romance where people redeem themselves or do their best trying.

I'm not saying Singh book is NA but she you can tell by the cover she wrote it to target those type of readers.

Thanks for the explanation.

While the characters do have some angst in their backstory, the plot follows the pattern of many mainstream romances. And (I'll put in spoiler tags so as not to spoil for anyone who plans to read and wants to know nothing)

Spoiler:

the characters don't try to mess each other up at all. They work on themselves and their relationship. There's not really anything in the story they have to redeem themselves for.

As for the cover, I thought it was a typical naked hero torso cover. The lip ring is not that common but goodness knows tattoos are.

I guess the NA books I've read were pretty tame as they actually were stories about the characters striking out on their own for the first time. Not necessarily what I would descibe as coming-of-age, but the first time they've lived alone, trying to juggle school and/or work and paying bills for the first time, etc. A lot of angst, but not trying to mess up others people's lives.

I had a higher tolerance for jerk heroes when I first started reading romance. Mostly because that was 99% of romances back then. I don't really enjoy books anymore where the hero treats the heroine like crap for the first 95% of the book and we only learn his true motivation in the last paragraphs. I think that's why I rarely read first person POV books anymore. I like getting the hero's thoughts. (Another reason I never jumped on the NA bandwagon is so many of the books are first person POV).

Not to say I don't have some jerk hero books on my keeper shelf . But many of those are by fave/former autobuy authors. And romances were different in the 70s/80s. Most of the ones I've kept have a nostalgia factor for me. And that type of story sometimes works very well. I just like books now where if that's the plot, we get the hero's reasoning during the story and not at the end.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

New Adult = Annoyingly immature and naive adults?

I'm mainly joking, just because I'm enjoying seeing someone echo my sentiments. Frankly, I can't stand most of the NA genre because I spend my time reading the books wanting to yell at the characters for being such self-centered idiots. Ironically, when I encounter well written naive and/or immature characters in other genres, they don't bother me nearly as much.

Yes, the unnecessary, self-inflicted angst with very little character growth is tiresome. I don't mind if a character starts out that way, but if they don't grow up/mature during the story I fail to see the point.

And I also find it difficult to believe some characters can be as naive or sheltered in this day and age unless we're given their backstory to explain why they've never been on the internet or read a book about some stuff.

But mostly I just can't buy into the HEA at the end of too many NA novels.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Yes, the unnecessary, self-inflicted angst with very little character growth is tiresome. I don't mind if a character starts out that way, but if they don't grow up/mature during the story I fail to see the point.

And I also find it difficult to believe some characters can be as naive or sheltered in this day and age unless we're given their backstory to explain why they've never been on the internet or read a book about some stuff.

But mostly I just can't buy into the HEA at the end of too many NA novels.

Exactly what I was trying to say you couldn't have worded it better.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

Thanks for the explanation.

While the characters do have some angst in their backstory, the plot follows the pattern of many mainstream romances. And (I'll put in spoiler tags so as not to spoil for anyone who plans to read and wants to know nothing)

Spoiler:

the characters don't try to mess each other up at all. They work on themselves and their relationship. There's not really anything in the story they have to redeem themselves for.

As for the cover, I thought it was a typical naked hero torso cover. The lip ring is not that common but goodness knows tattoos are.

I guess the NA books I've read were pretty tame as they actually were stories about the characters striking out on their own for the first time. Not necessarily what I would descibe as coming-of-age, but the first time they've lived alone, trying to juggle school and/or work and paying bills for the first time, etc. A lot of angst, but not trying to mess up others people's lives.

I had a higher tolerance for jerk heroes when I first started reading romance. Mostly because that was 99% of romances back then. I don't really enjoy books anymore where the hero treats the heroine like crap for the first 95% of the book and we only learn his true motivation in the last paragraphs. I think that's why I rarely read first person POV books anymore. I like getting the hero's thoughts. (Another reason I never jumped on the NA bandwagon is so many of the books are first person POV).

Not to say I don't have some jerk hero books on my keeper shelf . But many of those are by fave/former autobuy authors. And romances were different in the 70s/80s. Most of the ones I've kept have a nostalgia factor for me. And that type of story sometimes works very well. I just like books now where if that's the plot, we get the hero's reasoning during the story and not at the end.

I've yet to see a mainstream book cover with tattoos. All the ones I know of are indie or folllow the NA pattern covers.

I think we must keep separate the two type of romances out there before the lines gets so blur that we who want to read about healthy normal adults have nothing to read because they are no longer are being written.

I do hope it's just a fad. I can't compare these to the old historical books of the 70s and 80s as these books are in modern times so there is no excuse for their behavior. There is no redemption for these type of heroes/heroines even in the end and that is the huge problem. The writer shows them as normal when they are seriously messed up.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I've yet to see a mainstream book cover with tattoos. All the ones I know of are indie or folllow the NA pattern covers.

There are a ton of Paranormal covers where the hero (and heroines) have tattoos. Also a lot of historical covers (like Avon, etc). And a lot of romantic suspense covers. All from the Big 5 publishers. Often they look totally photoshopped, but tattoos nonetheless.

Originally Posted by Blossom

I think we must keep separate the two type of romances out there before the lines gets so blur that we who want to read about healthy normal adults have nothing to read because they are no longer are being written.

I do hope it's just a fad. I can't compare these to the old historical books of the 70s and 80s as these books are in modern times so there is no excuse for their behavior. There is no redemption for these type of heroes/heroines even in the end and that is the huge problem. The writer shows them as normal when they are seriously messed up.

I agree there is no excuse for the domestic violence by the jerk heroes nowadays. Not that that makes it excusable in books published in the 70s and 80s, but I would hope the culture has moved forward (it hasn't enough for sure!).

Most of the self-pubbed work I read is by authors who used to write for mainstream publishers, so their style is not all that different from previous books. I do have a ton of self-pubbed series in my TBR pile, but most were from recommendations here in our romance threads so I'm hoping they are not the types of stories you are talking about.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by library addict

There are a ton of Paranormal covers where the hero (and heroines) have tattoos. Also a lot of historical covers (like Avon, etc). And a lot of romantic suspense covers. All from the Big 5 publishers. Often they look totally photoshopped, but tattoos nonetheless.

I agree there is no excuse for the domestic violence by the jerk heroes nowadays. Not that that makes it excusable in books published in the 70s and 80s, but I would hope the culture has moved forward (it hasn't enough for sure!).

Most of the self-pubbed work I read is by authors who used to write for mainstream publishers, so their style is not all that different from previous books. I do have a ton of self-pubbed series in my TBR pile, but most were from recommendations here in our romance threads so I'm hoping they are not the types of stories you are talking about.

It bothers me to no end that young readers who read these type of books even though it fiction could come to think this is okay in real life. I still feel faint when I think about in REAL

Spoiler:

where the hero stabs his opponent in the face with a pencil in a fit of rage after the heroine kissed his cheeked and nobody does anything to punish this guy!

OMG That book is one of the many examples of books that are super popular out there right now that is disturbing.

I feel some stories need disclaimers by the author to let them know. No this is not okay it's just fiction but in real life don't stay in this kind of situation, get out fast.

I still have not seen these covers with tattoos. Can you recommend some?

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I still have not seen these covers with tattoos. Can you recommend some?

Lauren Dane has a whole series of books with awesome tattoos on the covers.

[Atunah]

Some tats on Kylie Scott's series about Rockers. Its contemporary romance, not NA. Main stream. Published by St. Martins, which I think is part of McMillan.

As to NA, I don't believe a lot of what is called NA is NA. Often its just contemporary romance. To me NA is Easy and Slammed. Those where really early on and Easy still my favorite. No jerk hero in sight, just some things that happened in the past. But since NA has now basically made into despicable characters treating each other like dirt, I haven't found one again I liked. In Thoughtless, I just wanted all of them to go away. Horrible people. I found it awful and never touched the others in the series.
Beautiful Disaster was for me the most disturbing. The idea that this guy was in any way shape or form a hero is just sick.
So now when I see the NA label on a book, I pretty much just keep going, unless some of my goodreads reading friends liked it and shelved it under contemporary romance.

Its getting a bit hard to find good contemporary romance that is not small town. I was so happy to have found the Kylie Scott series at least. Starts with Lick.
There is so much chopped up serial crap out there, NA horrible characters with jerks and lots and lots of whining. Oh the emo whining is just so annoying. Its pretty much all indy romance authors write anymore. I mean 9 out of 10 times I look at such a travesty and its a self publisher.

No wonder I keep sticking with historical, time travel, sci fi and paranormal romance for most of my reading.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Lauren Dane has a whole series of books with awesome tattoos on the covers.

Those are erotic romance though right if I call there is threesomes in some of them. I've seen them. I am talking mainstream Romance books. I suppose those would be mainstream erotica.