Sunday, May 23, 2010
DIK: Linda Lael Miller and Other Summer Reading
I’m an auto-buy reader. I almost always only buy books from authors who have established themselves to me as a Good Read. Actually more than that. They have to be a Great Read, and I have to consider them a Desert Island Keeper (DIK) for me to auto-buy them.In my youth, Julie Garwood and Jude Deveraux were my DIKs; and I’d have a list of books for Christmas so I could have my collection of favorites. I know many people love A Knight in Shining Armor as their Jude’s All-Time-Greatest; however, my favorite was The Raider because of the madcap humor, the nail-biting adventure and danger, and the underlying theme of looking past the surface of what someone looks like to the man or woman beneath to find real love. I still want to write a Revolutionary War era set book because of this novel.
In college, I found Teresa Medeiros and Jill Barnett. And toward the end of college, I had added Lisa Kleypas to the list. I loved Teresa for her lush prose; Jill for her ditzy but lovable heroines; and Lisa for heroes to swoon over. Before I bought any of them though, I had checked out their books from libraries, then fell so helplessly in love with the book I had to possess my own copy.
One of those books I remember reading—and blushing over—was Linda Lael Miller’s Lily and the Major. It’s set around or right after the Civil War, just as the Transcontinental Railroad has been completed and the country did interesting things like the concept of “orphan trains.” Sending city orphans West to be adopted by settlers. I’d like to think they meant well, and yet, what were they thinking?
I’m guessing Ms. Miller had the same thought because she wrote a trilogy based on three sisters who are adopted by different families, in different towns and states, and how they struggle to reunite with each other when they are grown. And because these are romances, they all fall in love. Lily’s hero is a major in the army; and she hates majors—and she hates the army. It’s one of those books, I think, where you either love it or hate it. I think the hero means well, but he can come across as a jerk. (But I think that's just Ms. Miller's ability to do Lily's POV.) Lily does spend a lot of her time trying to tick him off.
I’ve read Ms. Miller’s books for probably twenty years, and if I were washed up on a desert island and there were a pile of her books, I can’t say I’d be particularly disappointed with my lot. Hey, hey, a vacation! I was so used to her historicals, it wasn’t until much later I realized she also wrote contemporary novels. I was introduced to them this February when I was sent McKettricks of Texas: Tate*.
I admit, I was momentarily put off at first. I don’t read many contemporaries. There has to be a draw or a reason. Humor especially. The cowboy part was a plus, as was the author—but then there were the two things I never like in novels: dogs and kids. It’s like commercials. I feel like I’m being manipulated. I have to like these people because they have a dog or a kid, which incidentally is why they use dogs and kids in commercials to get you to buy their product. But I sucked it up and started reading, and I couldn’t put the book down. It was a good solid read. A keeper. And best of all, I knew there were going to be two more books about the brothers, Garrett and Austin. (Austin is way yummy and troublesome. Woooboy.)
By the time I had savored the book, I decided it was too late to brag about it then—but I’m catching up now. Garrett’s book, you see, is coming out May 25, and I want everyone aware of this book for part of their summer reading. I know this summer we have a slew of historicals for the picking: Tessa Dare, Eloisa James, and Lisa Kleypas just to name a few on my must-read lists. But I’m definitely adding this contemporary to the pile, if only as a reminder that heroes are just as delicious in Wranglers and pickup trucks as they are in ballrooms and formal wear. And while you’re ordering it, if you haven’t read Tate’s book, toss that in as well. It’s well worth the read. The kids and dogs totally grow on you.
Linda Lael Miller doesn’t have ambivalent characters—you either love them or hate them. (I think my sister still snarls whenever I mention the major from Lily and the Major. *LOL* I loved him, but she did not.) I truly believe her plot derives from the characters she creates and not the other way around. This is why I enjoy her novels so much because I prefer the character-driven story. I like to think the more books of hers I read, as well as books like hers (character-driven) will help me write in a more character-driven way.
What types of stories do you prefer to read? What sorts of books do you read to help with your writing? Who were your favorite authors when you were younger? What books are you most looking forward to this summer? And if you were tossed onto a desert island, what books would you hope were there to keep you company?
*Nancy Berland Public Relations sent me the book to review. I imagine since it took me this long to review it, my reviews from now on will be out of my own pocket. However, since I think book reviews are supposed to mention how the book was acquired, I'm offering full disclosure.
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72 comments:
Janga - I won this book on the Bandits blog. The excerpt was so good, I thought I might pick it up and then fate stepped in and made me the winner. I'm having fun reading something so out of my regular zone.
I haven't even gotten to the fetish shops yet. And my understanding is this is the start of a series, so I'm finally getting in at the beginning!
Like...wow. Terrio is time tripping. It's only noon where she is... ;)
Pray tell, what is this vampire book? I may have to break my vow to never read another one of them again...
Bo'sun put in the wrong title, Sin. See if our library has "Sunrise in a Garden of Good and Evil"
What IS up with the time traveling this blog is doing? This is so bizarre. Since Donna and Terri share a coast and are clearly posting from different TIMES.
2nd, you are a definitely a pirate of a different rum. I couldn't visit you on your island. I wouldn't be able to read there. *LOL* But I'm glad we share a love of Jennifer Crusie. And I did love that RT magazine--it was awesome!!
Janga, I knew you'd have the List! I have 4 on my must-buy list, but for me, that's a LOT. *LOL* I'll have to see what my UBS has available. (They sell both used and new...so I hope they have the books I need soon.)
Titles-schmitles. Who looks at the cover?
Sorry, Sin.
I fixed the time. Again. Love messing with you all. LOL!
I have a stack of Linda Lael Miller books among my TBRs. They were given to me by my fishing, hunting, golfing, football-addicted brother, who reads all of LLM's McKettrick books and calls them Westerns. :)
They are Westerns. They have real detail in them--they're not just wallpaper historicals. You feel like you're there, in a real part of the West.
I loved the orphan train books! It's been a long while since I read them, so I don't remember The Major being a jerk. I bet I have it packed in one of my zillions of boxes -- I'll have to find it and re-read it.
I love the concept of "summer reading", although I've never compartmentalized my reading choices that way. Maybe I'll start this year. :)
I haven't read any Linda Lael Miller. I am not sure why I haven't. I should give them a try since I'm sure there are some at the library. (Like you, I'm a try them out first. I don't usually buy until I've read a couple.)
Favorites when I was young? The same as yours. Jude Deveraux, Julie Garwood, and Judith McNaught.
Right now I'm not really reading. Mostly because I am not really writing either. I'm pretty much sleeping. But we'll see how it goes next month.
What am I looking forward too? Anna Campbell's tomorrow.
And I'd take all the HP books. I'd have to think about the rest.
Ah, Bo'sun, the keeper of time. Messing with us all!
Aye, I read different, but because a' the rest of ya, I've explored a few authors I'd never a' read afore. Like Eloisa. And Jennifer. I have tried some Kleypas, and sorry to say, didn't see the great draw. Now, I like Sandra Hill...
And Bo'sun turned me on to Jennifer Ashley...ya jest never know...
What types of stories do you prefer to read?
Varies with time. I wouldn't have been seen dead with a romance 10 years ago and was reading work by Nobel laureates. Now I am trying all sorts of romantic fiction. Catherine Anderson is current favorite but eventually I expect to fall back on Mary Balogh's long back list.
What sorts of books do you read to help with your writing?
I reckon no-one writes quite like me. I try to slant my stories to areas in which I am knowledgeable and simultaneously develop my own unique style. I only read other authors for enjoyment ... my writing is way beyond help!
Who were your favorite authors when you were younger?
When I was younger?! Damned cheek!
You're as young as you feel my gal. And I'm really young. :wink:
What books are you most looking forward to this summer?
Toni Blake's new one. Balogh's final Huxtable in audio.
Anything By Catherine Anderson or Cathy Maxwell.
And if you were tossed onto a desert island, what books would you hope were there to keep you company?
The latest cosmology and field theory texts to keep my brain active.
e-mail links to 'Just Janga' with a subscription to receive her top recommendations ... to keep me happy and amused. :D
I'd almost forgotten -- tomorrow is the release of Toni Blake's newest. I had meant to re-read One Reckless Summer beforehand, but I'm too busy with revisions though.
You go, Q! When I was younger, indeed. I love how some of the youngsters answer this, as if they weren't still young by chronological time. Which the Bo'sun keeps messing with... ;)
Donna, he's just a little *controlling* and bossy, which in my head makes him a little jerky. There was one particular scene where she sneaks into his house to steal some lunch, is crawling over the dresser to get back into her house, and he catches her. That dresser was never the same again. *fans self* As I said, I enjoyed the major quite a lot. My sister had other words for him. *LOL*
Yeah, another Toni Blake book!
I don't know if I necessarily term it summer reading myself, but I do seem to notice, much like movies, it feels like the most awaited "BLOCKBUSTER" books are released in the summer, so you can enjoy them on vacation.
Marn, I would be stockpiling the sleep if I were you. I should have added Judith McNaught to the list. Whitney, My Love and Something Wonderful were favorites of mine. Oh, and Almost Heaven. *sighs* I think I have the latter two books somewhere on my keeper shelves.
I would hope the HP books were on the island with me as well, though as often as I read or listen to them--I'll probably have them memorized when I show up at the island.
I just checked my email and saw that Borders sent me $5 to spend -- and it expires TODAY. So I'm gonna have to rush out to get something! LOL Like that will be difficult to do!
LOL about the dresser! I remember one of the heroes calling the heroine "sodbuster" since she wanted to farm. (Amazing the bits of stuff that stick my brain -- just waiting for moments like this I guess. LOL)
That's the one!! He doesn't understand why she wants to farm.
Oh cool! I don't remember him being a jerk. LOL (I don't even want to think what that says about ME. LOL)
Did you notice we're commenting in the afternoon? At first I thought I lost a whole day!
I don't know what WordPress's problem is. I went to bed at almost 12 last night and this stupid blog still hadn't posted. And now it says it's the afternoon. *sighs*
It must have PMS. :) Or CRS. LOL
OK, Hel. I just downloaded a bundle from my Sony store for my reader. Three LLM books. I think they are all contemporaries, but it was a good deal and it's a start...
*LOL* Poor Q, I wasn't trying to be cheeky about your age. What's the saying? Just because there's snow on the chimney doesn't mean there's no fire in the stove...
I'm glad you got your summer list lined out though. I can see you sunning yourself on the beach and happily reading your book. Maybe having some scotch. :)
2nd, I'm sure it will not surprise you that I'm not a Sandra Hill fan. Not that her heroes aren't yummy but because her "historicals" are, well, anachronistic. I can't handle that much anachronism. (And if they are historically accurate, they don't read that way...) A graduate student of mine loves her. Calls her brain candy.
Eh, I don't read her historicals. I like her Cajun books. Wonder about what she'd write about how the oil spill will invade their beloved swamp areas...
What are they called? The Pink Jinx was one of them... Pearl Jinx... And I can't remember the others.
I forgot about he Cajun ones. She is FUNNY.
WTF, the blog hates me. What's the deal with it telling me to slow down. I JUST posted one comment. DO YOUR JOB wordpress. Don't make me kick your ass.
I think in order to have PMS you have to have CRS. Or CRS is a symptom of PMS. LOL
It's been a long time since I picked up a Linda Lael Miller book. I devoured all of her books early on in my historical romance reading career. Her, Teresa Medeiros, Lisa Kleypas, Kat Martin, Katherine Kingsley, Diana Palmer, Virginia Henley, Johanna Lindsey, Andrea Kane and a bunch of other authors who are escaping my pea brain at the moment. Not because I didn't devour their books and love every minute, but because it is Monday and I CRS.
Now, I covet Pamela Clare and Tara Janzen and Kim Harrison. I must have these authors if I am stranded on an island. In fact, please send me Pamela Clare in person. Not only can she tell me stories, I'm pretty sure we could have such a fabulous time together that we'd forget it was a deserted island. We'll need two cabana boys a piece though. Might as well make this a party.
And I enjoy posting in the afternoon. This day is NOT going by fast enough.
Yeah, she writes some hot, hot cajuns!
Sin, you know Wordpress is about 6 hours ahead of you right now -- LOL -- so you're gonna have to catch up to it before you can kick its ass!
And if I'm stranded on an island, I better be with Sin. She's got enough books there we could lash them together to make a raft and escape. :) (Of course, I'd have to MAKE the damn thing because she would threaten to kick my ass if I didn't!)
LOL. I would kick your ass if you made a raft. Being a deserted island would be the only peace and quiet I've had in years. LOL
And the only reason I want to catch up to Wordpress today is so that I can GO HOME.
LOL -- I forgot about the peace and quiet part. You're right.
I better just get me some steel-reinforced butt pads. I'm gonna get an ass-kicking no matter WHICH choice I make! LOL
I'm not sure if it's Monday, or I'm just being a ditz, but what's CRS? I keep trying to figure out hose letters, and my guesses can't be right. Crappy Reality Syndrome? Cake-Retaining Sunday?
Anyway, I adore Linda Lael Miller, although I found her late, and started with her contemps. I have GOT to find Lily and the Major, though, if only for the dresser scene :)
Ahhhhh.
I have that too, then.
CRS- Can't remember shit.
I'm back! LOL I've got to go do some more brainstorming/revising though.
I didn't buy the Pamela Clare book -- I didn't think I could handle the child trafficking part. If one or more of you tell me that it's not too tough to handle, I might get it when I go back tomorrow for the Toni Blake book. :)
Hal, I think I have a couple of copies of Lily and the Major. All of my books are still packed up from the move (and a few boxes are still tucked away at my parents house), but I will attempt to look tonight. If I do have an extra copy (I'm almost positive I do) it will be an older copy and probably frayed a bit, but I will send it to you.
Dude, that'd be awesome!
DRD, I promise not to kick your ass. At least the first couple of days. LOL
Lemme look kiddo. I know I scored a couple of copies at the library a couple of years ago for a quarter a piece. I may even have an extra set of the trilogy.
Hal, you definitely need to read Lily and the Major. *LOL* The dresser scene is AWESOME. *LOL*
It is amazing. It is probably one of the scenes I refer back to in my mind when writing sex scenes other than the bed. That and P. Clare's shower scene in Hard Evidence. H.O.T.
DRD, I promise not to kick your ass. At least the first couple of days.
When does the countdown start? LOL I think of you as Ninja Rockette, or a Rockette Ninja. You might need to give ass-kicking lessons! How fun would that be?
I might need to spend my $5 Borders Bucks on the "shower scene". Um, for inspiration. LOL So I don't end up with CRSAS ("about sex")!
err. ending italics.
And you must read Hard Evidence by Pamela Clare. It is AWESOME. Awe-inspring RS fiction at it's best.
LMAO. I love when accidental italics are used.
The Rockette Ninja. Now I run around in flesh colored fishnets and heels and kick out when music comes on?
Sin, I think there are sequins too. Strategically placed, so you don't get fined by the FCC.
Okay, Hal, your italics convinced me. :) I'm going to buy that today (I can't resist a dark sexy alpha male - and since I don't see them in my real life on a daily basis. . .LOL)
Woman up. You can handle it.
Wait. Is that what that book is about?
LOL. I'm kidding. It's human trafficking, but PC does RS so well the story just comes to life. You'll love this story, DRD.
Hard Evidence is the one with Julian, right?
If so, Donna you're going to be pining to meet a Julian in real life. Every time you meet one named Julian, you're going to think shower scene...
After I get done throwing up snot, that is.
I don't mind being fined by the FCC. I'll kick their ass too.
Julian is mine. Keep your paws off him.
Wow, just got to work and y'all have been busy. I'll have to catch up later. On a good note, kiddo doesn't need braces for another year. On a bad note, looks like we might have them at the same time.
That lottery ticket better come through soon.
And stop giving me more books to read!
Oh, btw, everyone hold onto your bootstraps. I'm currently reading a vampire book.
*series of thuds*
Hello? Guys? Come on, I warned you first.
Sin, woman, I hope you get to feeling better soon. When are you seeing the doc again?
YOU'RE READING A VAMPIRE BOOK? Who are you and what have you done with the real Bo'sun?
I'm going at lunch today. The fact that I can't keep food down every time I cough is probably sign I need to be home still.
If so, Donna you’re going to be pining to meet a Julian in real life.
*grabby hands* Want! Now!
I don’t mind being fined by the FCC. I’ll kick their ass too.
That lottery ticket better come through soon.
Yikes, between Bo'sun braces and Sin needing buckets full of bail money, it better be a MegaLotto!
Someone has apparently found out my secret and wrote a tell all book about me. Must find this woman and silence her.
Wow, it's after 5 already -- LOL -- I've got to run out and do some errands (subliminal message: buy books).
Catch ya later!
And what kind of Vamp book is it?
I am! It's Love in a Garden of Good & Evil by Barbara Monajem. The heroine is pretty much based on Sin. Not kidding. I'm only two chapters in and I'd swear she's quoted her twice.
And she's a vampire. Sin, you must get this book.
Bail money means I'm going to get caught. Ninja's don't get caught my dear. LOL
Damned library does have it. Of course.
doesn't is what I meant.
Nooooo! Terri's reading a vampire book, leaving me alone in the holdout corner. But I shall hold firm. Even Teresa Medeiros couldn't change my mind.
I blogged a week ago about my plans for summer reading. I have 50+ books on my list for May 25-August 31. Just within the next two weeks, I have 14 books on my must-buy list:
Sugar Creek, Toni Blake
The Forbidden Rose, Joanna Bourne
My Reckless Surrender, Anna Campbell (I've already read an ARC, but I'll still buy a copy.)
One Dance with a Duke, Tessa Dare
The Irish Warrior, Kris Kennedy
Married by Morning, Lisa Kleypas
Tempting the Marquess, Sara Lindsey
Ten Things I Love About You, Julia Quinn
Crush on You, Christie Ridgway
Tempting Eden, Margaret Rowe
When Marrying a Scoundrel, Kathryn Smith
His at Night, Sherry Thomas
Honeysuckle Summer, Sherryl Woods
And I've decided I'm not going to an island. The books I would have to take with me would sink the ship, unless it were an ocean liner.
I were so pleased when I saw LLM on the cover of RT. And I thought, "Yeah, Hel will like this!"
Now, confession time...haven't read her. But honestly, the stack of haven't reads is huge. What did I read when younger?
Mysteries. Still read mysteries. Uh...the Angelique Books, everything by Alexander Dumas and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, A. E. Van Vogt, Clifford D. Simak, Frank Herbert...Tolkien...Fairy Tales, Mythology, Leon Uris, Michener, Hermann Wouk, Allen Drury. John Jakes...
Desert Island Books? Tolkien, Whitman, Irving Stone...
I be a pirate of a different color, obviously. I do enjoy Jennifer Crusie...
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