Fan Girl Friday

May 11, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

Well done visuals for the Black Dagger Brotherhood, one of my literary obsessions.

Fan Girl Friday

May 4, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

Several of my favorite authors had new releases in March and April, so lots of great reading. Each new book thrilled me. Even masterful authors in full command of their craft enthrall me for reasons that have as much to do with me as the words on the page. The attraction may have little to do with author intention.

This unpredictable connection between prose and reader forms the basis for the literary breakout successes. Since my enjoyment of a tale has much more to do with this mysterious inner connection and less to do with the mechanics of writing, then readers’ ratings means little.

Writers, including me, prefer glowing reviews. But the same title never glows equally for everyone. There are readers who failed to appreciate Harry Potter’s adventures, or the Twilight series, or more recently the Hunger Games. All of these stellar successes have garnered multiple one star reviews.

The book does not change from one reader to the next. Therefore, the deciding factors must be readers’ perception and judgement.

Have you failed to appreciate a popular title? Could you understand the appeal or was the attraction totally mysterious?

Fan Girl Friday

April 27, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

So last month Lover Reborn released. Did I hold out for the price to come down? Nah. I don’t like paying high prices for ebooks, but I’m not going to deny myself a good story on a principle.

Ms. Ward tells an excellent story, I’m accepting the new black dagger brotherhood installments aren’t the same mind gripping kind of goodness the early titles were, but they’re still damn compelling fiction.

Are you willing to pay more than $9.99 to read in digital ink?

Fan girl Friday

April 20, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

Watched the movie the other night, which reminded me about the books. I read the entire trilogy with mixed feelings. The writing and/or translation isn’t elegant prose. The hero is a total Gary Stu construct. Most of the cast is unlikable.

Amid a overly complicated plot, a mishmash of conspiracy and revenge, Lisbeth Salander connected with me like a laser, with so much intensity and brilliance I paused regularly to marvel the same author who was responsible for the rest of the lackluster cast also created such a compelling, complex heroine.

Have you read anything that made you both groan and cheer?

Fan Girl Friday

April 13, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

Friday the thirteenth seems like the ideal time to talk about the perfect way to soothe any jitters from superstition or the irritation of everyday stress and strain — rereading.

Hey, it works for me. When I want the comfort of a sure thing, I turn to a favorite book. To insure a satisfactory selection of these vital comfort reads, I add digital versions of keeper titles to my virtual shelf regularly.

Watching a favorite movie works too. Some have become seasonal traditions, hauled out, dusted off, and popped in annually. The Christmas must-see movie list has become so long I need to start right after Thanksgiving.

What always makes you feel better?

Fan Girl Friday

April 6, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

On The Edge is the first in a series, which makes it even better. The author is actually a husband and wife team, probably better known for their Kate Daniel series, told in first person. Occasionally I read a first person story, even more rarely I enjoy one. This is why I read very little urban fantasy, have yet to read any of the Hunger Games, and I’m just now discovering Ilona Andrews.

Do you have genres you avoid? Personal reading prejudices? Do tell…

Fan girl Friday

March 30, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

Now y’all know I’m a digital kinda reader. Thea Harrison’s True Colors and Lee Child’s Second Son both thrilled me last year. I hope more favorite authors are willing to release novellas to tide me over between mass market titles. Thea Harrison must have been listening. She released Natural Evil last month!

Please tell me about your latest happy reading surprise.

Fan Girl Friday

March 23, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

This review is really for the first five books of Ms. Dohner’s New Species series, but I suggest starting with Fury, ’cause it’s more fun that way.

I’m wild about the New Species series. The last paranormal romance series I was this enthusiastic about was JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood. IMHO New Species is better.

Her stories hook me because of two big factors. First, her characters — to-die-for, wonderful yet flawed heroes and heroines I’d love to hang out with. Second, she surprises me. Every single book has plots twists I didn’t see coming. Happy fan-girl sigh.

Please share your latest fiction finds, I read much too fast and need lots of reading suggestions!

Fan Girl Friday

March 16, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

Last year I read several wildly success titles with pathetic heroines. Now I like a wounded character as well as the next reader, but I like her to get with the program before the book ends. In these tales the heroine never grew a spine. She was the same doormat at the end as at the beginning. What changed? She found a man who wanted to possess and coddle his very own doormat. In my world submissive doesn’t mean stupid or spineless.

Now and then I wonder if the kind of heroine I want to read has gone out of style. I can understand the appeal of a fantasy where the woman does nothing at all except become the pampered pet of a powerful man. Modern women wear lots of hats and are frequently tired. Escaping into a romance where she has no responsibilities and no demands obviously has broad appeal. Am I the only reader who wants a strong heroine to match her alpha hero?

Fan Girl Friday

March 9, 2012 | Fan Girl Friday

I love a bargain and free is one of my favorite price.

Free even makes sense to me as a seller, especially for a samples. Hence the free reads section right here.

A few times, I’ve shied away from paying hardback prices for a kindle title. But since I prefer the kindle to dead tree books there’s no point in depriving myself of a book I want to read just because it costs the same in one format as it does in another.

The one barrier I haven’t gotten past is the premium priced ebooks. I’ve seen a few titles where the kindle version was more than the mass market issue. To me, that’s just plain wrong.

How do feel about ebook pricing? Should they be cheaper than dead tree books? Are you more likely to buy a bargain book than a full price title?