Is been a very long, foggy, bewildering day. Started off with waking up in a total panic, convinced I had to be at court in forty-five minutes when in fact I had more like an hour and a half. Delirium as a result of total exhaustion. Luckily, the Pseudo Boss is smart enough to not be alarmed and just be somewhat concerned instead.

But omg what made my day absolutely freaking wonderful? Jennifer Ashley. More specifically, The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Amazing book. From the excerpt I read online, I suspected a paranormal element which I was actually quite curious about. But no, it turned out to be only too real and fascinating and something I've never encountered in fiction, especially not romance. No spoilers because it's way too cool to put the clues together and figure it out yourself.

But bloody marvellous book. Cos as unusual as he was, he was completely fascinating. And the heroine was beautifully cast, neither too slutty nor too virginal --- a grumble I've been having to myself over the past week or so --- and neither too cold nor too fawning. Best of all? She totally solved the whole mystery when all the rest of them were barging around in completely different directions and man, did she do it in awesomely intelligent and intuitive fashion. I was totally cheering her on.

Cos oh yes. There was a crime mystery subplot which normally would bore me to groans but it wasn't even a subplot because Jennifer Ashley is apparently that awesome a writer that she wove it inextricably into the narrative, so much so that I wasn't bored at any single point and never once felt the need to yawn and skim. The sex was marvellous, the emotion wonderfully handled, and the prose damned near perfect. Only once did she inspire the supercilious raised eyebrow and a slight wince a little later but you know what, I'll forgive her both those instances cos man that was a Good Book.

And there is nothing like that feeling of utter satisfaction when you close a Good Book. Mind, body and soul/imagination content. I had another book in my bag in case this one proved horrible and I actually did begin it directly after cos I had so much time to kill before writing group. But it just felt wrong. I needed to wait, to bask before starting another journey. And oh man ... *is still basking*

Almost on par with Loretta Chase. Although there is humour, it's not quite as funny but the other elements more than make up for that. Not Regency, this is actually Victorian so, you know, whalebone corsets and underskirts and all that but still hot. Definitely a high high recommendation.

I'm soooo eager for the next one but that will be a bit of a wait. *sighs and tries to be patient*

Upon dragging her up out of bed:

"Mom," she looks at me blearily.

"Hmmm?"

"My dream! Me and my friends were under our beds, on a bug hunt. We were crawling all around, but all we found were books, and toys, and little tiny dinosaurs."

"Dinosaurs?"

"Yeah," to which she turns slightly annoyed, "they kept on and on, biting my fingers...I don't know why."

"Huh. Well I guess dinosaurs are just snappish like that."

"I guess so - but it was really weird!"

Oh, if only the poor dear knew what a long, weird road she has ahead.

Okay...I finally gave in and watched Twilight. Several times. So I bought the book and read it. In one night. The next day, I picked up New Moon and Eclipse at the bookstore. Read New Moon in one night, too...Eclipse took a bit longer because I'd been missing so much sleep!

Of course, all of that led to fanfic searches. I feel all nostalgic now for all the banter and camaraderie of those days back in college when I had extra hours to spend online in LOTR slash comms here on LJ. I still remember some usernames as if they were actual acquaintances!

I have no idea if anyone will read this post, but please do say hello if you do!

Oh, and! We watched Alien this weekend because the captain had never seen it and apparently neither had I! (I thought I had but I guess I was thinking of Aliens). Man, does that movie hold up or what! Suspenseful! Understated and quiet in all the right places! Awesome set (and monster, of course) designs. The Giger abounds! And it all just generally looks great.

Next on my queue of course: Aliens and Alien 3!

From the blogspot this morning.

Three things that will make me toss a book after the first twenty-five pages:

1. A protagonist talking aloud to herself;

2. A protagonist looking in the mirror and describing herself;

2a. And describing herself as 'slightly exotic'! Who the hell looks in the mirror and thinks anything but "god, I look the same as every other day, I'm so freaking boring"?! Oooooooof!

3. The author telling us blatantly obvious general knowledge that every reader would know ... like I would pick up a novel about Jane Austen if I didn't know that Jane Austen is a 'famous nineteenth century author'!

*slams book closed and flings it back into bag*

And I was so happy and eager, optimistic, when I opened it. The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, Sally Smith O'Rourke. *sighs*

~~~~~~~~

In other news, I discovered last night I can plait my hair! And the one long braid down my back actually held all the way through the night and through half of today before I re-did it tighter.

I am so impressed with myself! *lol*

Although I am beginning to wonder if it's gotten long enough and ought to be cut to a slightly updated less ... rural style. But then maybe it just needs some shaping around the ears to make it look nice and sleek and actually styled. Who knows? I might straighten it for the Aunt's birthday. And/or Melbourne.

Of course I did screw it up by plaiting it one way at the back, then inadvertantly flipped it over when I plaited the lower bit over my shoulder. So it's all bumpy and strange and maybe a leetle too traditional Indian female stereotype for my liking but hee.

Yes, well. My hair's never been this long! And everybody commented on it today. :p

Funny how reading displeasing stuff can make you realise how specific your tastes are. Me, I like strong intelligent women, cheeky rakes with touches of vulnerability, a healthy dose of sex, set firmly in England, focusing on the romance in context of family and social life.

But then I read my first Edith Layton this week. Her name's been bandied about on enough romance novel blogs and specifically in the Regency context that I had to investigate her at some point. And when I realised my England small life criterion, A Bride At His Convenience seemed very promising. (  ... not so. *shakes head* ) Still, argh. Consider me burned. No more Edith Layton.

Speaking of soft porn, that is the only way I can describe Anna Campbell's Tempt The Devil. Admittedly that is kinda what I wanted, and I was quite intrigued by an online review that said how these protagonists were older jaded and their relationship quite realistic. ( ... oh yeah? Don't even! ) And I've heard enough to stay very far away from Claiming The Courtesan.

The curious thing is I can't avoid this sudden saturation of paranormal romance but every time I eye those shelves or glance over an online review, my brain just screws up in distaste. I'm so over vampires and supernatural romance. Been there, done that, you know? As much as I keep telling myself "no, but these are new writers, they might be doing amazing things, reinventing mythologies and genre tropes", my brain just creaks and propels me away. I'm all about the real people at the moment. Real people in real situations. In romance, yes.

But having said that, I am quite intrigued by this author and this book but I'm going to start with this one cos the excerpt is fascinating. Yeah, I read excerpts now. This from the girl who will only look at the front, read the back and refuse to crack it open until it's been paid for ... that's how badly I've been burnt. *lol*

Still there is hope! I have another new book waiting for me, the excerpt of which had me grinning from ear to ear. A new author for me, and she's written a whole series so here's hoping!

Other authors I've been reading in between have ranged from excellent to fucking awful gouge-my-eyes-out.

Celeste Bradley shitted me so badly that I don't think I even finished the book. Clumsily written, irritating characters, and look I was so annoyed I've forgotten everything else about the book. Duke Most Wanted I think it was.

Gaelen Foley pissed me off because her heroine was all helpless waif to be rescued by the big bad rake. That was One Night In Sin.

Stephanie Laurens I know I used to read way back when but I couldn't remember her style or plots at all so bought one because it featured a marriage of convenience, always a trope I like. Devils Bride. ( a slight rant. ) So no more Stephanie Laurens for me, thanks.

Around the same time, I found these beautifully designed doubles with these gorgeous textured covers, two novels by two separate authors in one book sort of thing. Not sure what the thinking there is but what the hell. I took another punt.

And oh jesus fucking christ. The Wagering Widow by Diane Gaston? Pretty much made my blood pressure shoot through the roof. ( .... stay far far away. )

I've been eyeing off the Little Black Dress series cos they have such cool covers and cos I've been wanting to try contemporary romance but am still a little skittish cos I'm so invested in Regency romance. When I asked the Heyer fan at Dymocks about them, she said the quality was quite iffy across the range but she didn't mind Rachel Gibson.

And as luck would have it, I came across a three-novella collection that included Stephanie Laurens and Rachel Gibson, Secrets Of A Perfect Night. Two Regencies and a contemporary. I took a punt. BAD punt! ( ... sheesh. ) Urgh. *shudders*

Having said that, though? Yesterday I finished a Regency romance from the Little Black Dress series, Rules Of Gentility by Janet Mullany. And it was delightful. ( ... someone to watch out for, in a good way! )

The Heyer fan did tell me she was really surprised to see a Regency in that series. I'm hoping it won't be a one-off cos I'd like to see more. I have bought another which I'm going to start today --- the premise sounds like it could be fun, contemporary not Regency --- and am still keeping an eye out for stuff set in England.

Loretta Chase I found on my own, caught by the title and the unusually classy cover.

Anne Gracie was recommended to me by the Heyer fan at Dymocks. Lovely girl, that, and yes it's now gotten to the point where I'm reccing stuff to her. *lol* I told her I wanted strong women with good sex and she pointed me to The Perfect Rake.

( ... our very own ... )

I'm holding off on starting her next series because, well, I've gotten distracted by other authors. Plus I can't seem to find the first book which doesn't help. Also, it seems like it'll be a different sort of darkness and I'm not quite ready for that. When I am, I'm sure it will be all the more satisfying. Right time for the right book and all that.

I am still reading only Regency romances. Why? Mostly for the escapism but I am noticing how, as I read more, my writer brain takes closer note of the techniques and devices, characterisation and which plots catch me more than others. I don't know if that's just familiarity breeding higher standards or latent frustration at my own lack of writing. *shrug*

But it's now shitting me that I haven't reviewed any of the fabulous stuff I've found as well as noting down the problems with the less shit stuff. Plus, d'you know how hard it is to find reviews of Regency romance?! Quite unfair. So here goes.

What I've read so far, by author.

Loretta Chase: ( the most awesomest of awesome. )

She is truly the best of the best. I can't recommend her highly enough. She's so witty, such a skilful writer, and so very hot. Heyer with sex is the best way I can describe her. Heyer with sex and modern punctuation, that is. Awesomeness.

I don't think I've ever gone so long without writing before...I'm not sure I like it, but I'm not sure of a way around it. There's so much I'd like to say, but am at present unable, that I usually feel ostracized even when I do [speak/write]. Suffice it to say there's been a lot of crazy going down...some is crazy good - like Em doing fantastically at her last gymnastics meet, 7th AA in her division at AAU Nationals! - and some crazy, well, not so good.

I'm tired. And I miss being around here, and the camaraderie I used to have that I'm not sure I do anymore. This isn't a line, fishing for sympathy or the like...I just don't know what else to say except that I wanted to pop myself in and say hi.

(Hi!)

( ... words before they disappear from the ether ... )

© Ben Okri, 2009