It snowed.
Not in time to save me from going to work of course. But it did snow. And now it's freezing cold in my little basement room. I curled up with my new book and read it straight through in one sitting. 
I think I should save my proper review for a later time, once I've had a chance to reflect. But my initial impressions are that Campbell has a very good way with words and her characters are multi-faceted. I loved Matthew. Just loved him. How often do you get to read about a sexy, intelligent virgin hero? Yeah, about that often. 'Nuff said. I liked the love scenes...particularly the first one. There was an earthiness and 'real'-ness to it in which everything does not go magically right and the heroine lies there underneath the crushing weight of the hero and just wishes he'd get off and let her breathe. Again, not your typical "first time" scene. The tone of the story is very dark, almost gothic. The villains are Evil with a capital E. Overall though, I was pretty pleased with the book until the big climax. After all kinds of death and destruction and separation, our hero and heroine are finally back together and she pulls the old martyr "I'm only doing what's best for you by leaving you" routine that MAKES ME INSANE!!! Have I mentioned how much I abhor this device? Ok, yeah. That makes me want to throw the book very hard against the nearest wall. Had it not been for this, I probably would have given the book something like an A-, but at the moment I'm feeling more like a straight B. But like I said...I'll wait until I cool off to review it properly. lol. When I get angry at a character, it colors my view of the entire book which is probably unfair.
*deep calming breath*
So in other news, I have found a fun internet radio station that streams good old-fashioned Christmas classics for my listening pleasure. Ahhh, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Vince Guaraldi Trio...take me away!
And thanks to a timely post at Dear Author, I bought five e-Harlequins at the bargain price of $11 as they were running a half-off sale today. As I've mentioned before, I'm trying to add shorter series books to my reading diet to mix things up a little and this seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up. My haul:
- Strokes of Midnight - Hope Tarr
- A Blazing Little Christmas - Jacquie D'Allesandro, Joanne Rock, Kathleen O'Reilly
- The Roman's Virgin Mistress - Michelle Styles
- What She Really Wants for Christmas - Debbi Rawlins
- Beyond Breathless - Kathleen O'Reilly
And now for a random funny picture from Africa to make me smile. I think I've taken that bus before!
7 comments:
Virgin heroes! A subject close to my heart. I blogged about whether virgin heroes can ever be hot a coupla months ago (see link below) and concluded that it's a difficult one to pull off but it is possible. My fave virgin hero: Michael from Wild At Heart by Pat Gaffney *clasps hands at bosom*.
Now I have to find out what this Matthew is like... I was planning to read this anyway. I liked (C+/ B-) Claiming the Courtesan and didn't really get why so many people got their knickers in a twist about it. But it does have the martyr heroine thing at the end too and yes - that also makes me insane (even in Sweet Everlasting which I just finished *sigh*).
http://tumperkin.blogspot.com/2007/10/q-can-virgin-hero-ever-be-hot-a-heavily.html
Fav. virgin hero: Hugh from Demon Angel. 800 years without getting some some? But that scene, when he has his less than angelic way with his demon girlfriend? Burns it up.
I love me some virgin heroes!!
That scene in Demon Angel when Hugh has Lillian against the door in deamon form- HOT!!
that has to be some kind of fetish- demonofilia? Har har har.
Some of my fav all time virgin cuties are:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward
Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor
No Sweeter Heaven by Katherine Kingsley
Tim by Colleen McCullough
Oh I have this one TBR next. I liked her first book so I am really looking forward to this one. And Virgin heroes? Yowza!Love it, love it! Not enough of them IMO.
tumperkin, I went and read your blog entry on virgin heros. I think you'll like Matthew. He's got a totally believable reason for being a virgin (ie. being imprisoned since age 14) and he doesn't have perfect technique right from the get-go. What he DOES have is a very intuitive and gentle nature that helps him clue in to the heroine's needs and he's a quick learner, aye? ;-)
lisabea, I have a dark guilty confession to make...I haven't actually read Demon Angel. Something about the demon thing...I dunno. But now that I know there is a virgin hero in the book, I will probably have to cave in and read it. lol.
katiebabs, of course Jamie was the first one I thought of. Only my favorite hero of all-time. *sigh* I like that you include Zsadist in there too because really he was a virgin in all the ways that matter. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for that boy. *sniff*
Giselle, I think you will enjoy the book. It's very well-written in my opinion. Look forward to reading your feedback.
hmm, I am thinking of trying one of my new harlequin e-book purchases just to cleanse my palette. I need something short and quick and light.
I won this book and can't wait to get my copy. I laughed about the plot device you hate cuz it was the same one used in CTC. Can't wait for your actual review.
Oh, I loved Jamie Fraser, oh just loved him. I totally agree with you. Jamie is much more "real" than a lot of the heroes out there. You are seriously having me considering going back to re-read the first book...
hi stacy! congrats on winning the book. I think you'll enjoy it...or at least I hope you will. *g* You'll have to come back and tell us how it worked for you. And maybe later on this week, I will reread Untouched and write my real review. I feel like I can be a little more rational now. lol. If that plot device is used in CtC, then perhaps I'm better off skipping it?
Best not to get me started on Jamie. *sigh* I met him in virtual-land long before my boyfriend, so he has first claim to my heart. lol. Seriously though, he seems so real, so very human with all of his quirks and foibles and stubborness and gentleness and fierceness. and and and. ok, I need to shut up or pretty soon I'M gonna have to go back for an Outlander glom and we all know how long that could take. ;-)
anyways, thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be back.
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