Upcoming - December

This is our third month on Bodice Rippers, and with year end upon us, we thought we would end 2011 with a bang. Several of our members on Bodice Rippers are big fans of Christine Feehan, and many of us have met on her wonderful site

Christine Feehan

Christine will be our Featured Author of the Month, to accompany the release of her latest in the Sisters of the Heart series, "Spirit Bound" on December 27.

Christine has 4 great series and with different story lines; therefore Bodice Rippers will not do a read along this month. There will be a group discussion for each series, continuing throughout the month. You can access any of the series using the links (series name) on the right side.

We have many exciting things planned for the entire month, as well as reviews and a contest pertaining to Christine and her wonderful world of characters and books. We will also post a request for submissions, for you, our members, to write a review on your favorite Christine book, and of the submissions, we will choose 3 or 4, depending on space and time, to be on the main page. All the information how to submit a review, and which books have been reviewed by the BR Team, will be a separate post. The contest this month will be a month long Trivia Game. The contest rules will also be a separate post. So keep an eye out for the posts. Best of all, Christine has graciously consented to a written interview, to be posted December 15th.

On December 4th, we will be posting an interview with a new author…Carolyn Arnold, who has just released her new book “Eleven”. A review of Carolyn’s previously released first book “Ties that Bind”, in the ‘Madison Knight’ series will be posted prior to the interview. We look forward to welcoming Carolyn to Bodice Rippers. Our weekly schedule of themes, reviews, and articles will continue as usual, with some added surprises. We are very excited to share with you everything we have planned for December.


Bodice Rippers Team

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

November is coming to close.. it is in it's wee hours.. so we must say goodbye to the amazing Melissa Mayhue. We, and I know I speak for Barb and Sandy, when I say this really appreciated the support Ms Mayhue gave us. Her interview and comments made our month long time with her even more special. I know some of you have even wandered over to her facebook page to chat with her there.. Fortunately for all of us, Ms Mayhue continues to write and we will be blessed w/her books for many years to come.. We, yes I speak for all of us again, hope to see Ms Mayhue pop by whenever it fits her fancy..

Now.. I had a point to this post... what was it again? *grins* oh yeah.. the contest.. First off.. this was harder than I thought it was going to be... the questions were.. 

In the Daughters of the Glen Series Ms Mayhue has two instances of Good Fae/Bad Fae in one family. Name who they are.. and what their relationships are.. you might just have to give it a guess..

Hint 1... One set is well documented and we are TOLD they are family the other is hinted at...  it's a tease... oh and Ms Mayhue herself referred to one of them as the most interesting character...

HINT 2.  The question calls for Good Fae/Bad Fae.... pure fae.. don't jump to the obvious.. 

Hint 3... The duos are not in the same books.. maybe one will overlap but both pairs are NOT in the same story   

Now many automatically jumped to the relationship between Reynard and Ramos the two of them being the most obvious Good Fae/Bad Fae pairing BUT.. Ramos is only half Fae and did not qualify.. Anyone who sent that answer in received an email telling them that they needed to send in another answer. I did this because the hints had been added AFTER the original post and I wanted to level the playing board...

OK.. ready for the answers... 

Dallyn and Wynn... Wynn is the character Ms Mayhue referred to in her interview as a most interesting character... This is also the relationship that is hinted at.. they have the same last name AND Wynn comments about his (paraphrasing) stick in the mud older brother.. later a Mairi comments that Dallyn reminds her of someone..  The Can be found in Soul of the Highlander

Devlan and Dermond are the other two.. do you remember them? Dermond is the Bad Fae.. he works for Adira.. not too bright but very loyal.. he is set to capture Destiny... Devlan is his Good Fae brother working to guard Wydecol.. his twin.. 

have I missed anything?

oh yeah.. we have a winner.. and believe me I was very happy to have been able to pull her name out of the hat (which my ever gracious daughter Remington did for us) as she has been very involved throughout the month.. Yes.. that is right Ms. Vickieann... you are our WINNER!! sometimes the stars do align... 

Now.. remember you must email me your addy to our bodiceripperstrivia@yahoo.com email.. you will also need to make sure and tell me if you want to wait for the autographed copy that Ms Mayhue will be providing mid to late December or would rather have me sign a copy of Highlander's Curse.. I am sure it will have equal meaning to you.. *grins* not...

TALKING ABOUT...Stefan Andreas Schwarze

The month of December will be dedicated to the prolific paranormal romance author Christine Feehan.

As a tribute to the wonderful storylines and the men who grace the covers, Talking About....Thursday will introduce the models behind the pictures.

Grab a glass of wine, pull up a comfortable chair and wrap yourself in a warm, cashmere blanket. As we introduce our first cover model.....Stefan Andreas Schwarze.

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Stefan Andreas Schwarze has appeared on more than 400 romance book covers, including Dark Guardian and the inside cover of Safe Harbor by Christine Feehan.

At 6'3" and of German descent, and a consummate athlete, Stefan runs his own trendy New York athletic club.

Stefan's first break into the world of romance cover models was through a fellow gym member at the athletic club. An avid chess player, Stefan check-mated his way to a friendship with the art director for Penguin Books. As Stefan started to slim-down and and add more definition to his physique, through body-building, he was sent for a test-shot with a photographer.

Stefan was quoted as saying, "He likes modeling because of the people involved. The photographers and the artists. They are great people. I have also had the opportunities to meet some of the authors as well. I am fortunate to know such talent.

When Stefan is not busy with his modeling career, he owns and operates EVOLUTION Fitness Club. Following expansions and renovations to the club between 2000-2006, Stefan re-started his career as a fitness trainer. He is sometimes at the club from 6am to midnight, then must return to the city for a modeling assignment.

Stefan's romance covers have spanned Regency rakes, cowboy daddies, viking warriors, Highland Lords, vampires and Carpathians. Stefan has modeled for Harlequin Intrigue, Silhouette and Berkley.

http://www.junerossblog.com/2008/01/stefan-andreas-schwarze.html

http://mermaidarium.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html

Sandy

Dark Series Discussion

The Dark Series – the Carpathians

This month we are doing individual group discussion for every series. This page is for our beloved Carpathians. Post a comment about anything and everything that is the Dark Series. Discuss your favorite book, favorite character, what you liked or didn’t like.

My favorite book in the Dark Series is Dark Slayer. It had everything you would want in a book. Excitement, adventure, a great heroine and hero, so many of our favorite Carpathians played huge roles in the book, excellent villains, and a great ending.

My favorite Carpathian is tough to choose, so here are my favorites:

Male: Gregori, Julian, Lucian, Dimitri

Female: Ivory, Francesca, Natalya, Raven, Shea

Now tell us what are your favorites.

Barb

Ghostwalkers Discussion

Ghostwalker Series

This month we are doing individual group discussion for every series. This page is for our magnificent Ghostwalkers. Post a comment about anything and everything that is the Ghostwalker series. Discuss your favorite book, favorite character, what you liked or didn’t like.

I personally was hoping to see Javier and Rhianna in the next book. But it’s not to be, as Samurai Game belongs to Sam and Thorn. Paul would have made a good mate for Thorn...he is a psychic surgeon and Thorn was brutally assaulted by Whitney and the others.

What are your thoughts on the Ghostwalker series?

Barb

Drake Sisters/Sisters of the Heart Discussion

The Drake Sisters/Sisters of the Heart Series

This month we are doing individual group discussion for every series. This page is for the wonderful Drake Sisters, and the Sisters of the Heart series. Post a comment about anything and everything that is either Drake Sisters or Sisters of the Heart. Discuss your favorite book, favorite character, what you liked or didn’t like.

My favorite two books of the Drake Sisters is Safe Harbor and Turbulent Seas.

The two couples in each of these books were great, and I could not choose between either book as my favorite.

I adored Hannah and Jonas, as well as Joely and Ilya.

What were your favorites?

Barb

Leopard Series Discussion

Leopard Series

This month we are doing individual group discussion for every series. This page is for our awesome Leopards. Post a comment about anything and everything that is the Leopard series. Discuss your favorite book, favorite character, what you liked or didn’t like.

I’ll start things off:

My favorite Leopard book was the last one, Savage Nature.

Drake has been my favorite since the beginning, and it was great to see him have his own book in Savage Nature.

Tell us your thoughts.

Barb

WWW Wednesday

It's Wednesday that means it's time for another WWW WEDNESDAY Post!


I have one for you all!! What Word is on your mind?

 Me I like Winsome, Whatever, Why, Whatnot, Windmill and that's just the W's

Remember this is your day.. comment on Whatever subject you Want to! There are no rules.. Write a dissertation or a review.. Post a quote or random thoughts.. the best thing about no rules.. there are no Wrong answers!!

Shauni

Judging a Book By Its' Cover

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Many readers will hunt through clearance racks looking for paperbacks and hardcover books. When a particular cover catches their eye, most will read the title first, the back cover for an excerpt of the storyline, then the majority will thumb through the pages, trying to find a word or phrase that peaks their interest.

Unless the reader is looking for a specific title, a series continuation or a recommendation, many readers will pay attention to the cover. It is the first thing that catches their eye. the images portrayed on the front cover.

Most publishers use stock photography that has been previously purchased and selected, with multiple authors in mind. And we have all seen the the same picture, on two or more books, by different authors.

To emphasize the redundancy surrounding many romance covers and the duplicity involved, I have recently found a series of 'actual' romance covers that have been 'spoofed'. In the grand scheme of things, I don't think the author ( in this case Norah Hess) or publisher considered the implications of such a cover, but someone, with a little too much time on their hands......had nothing better to do than 'spoof' a few of the covers from romance novels.

Sooooo, which book would you buy? Do you judge a book by its' cover? Many people will pick up a book, based soley on its' cover. It is what first attracts the person to that specific book. Just as in real life, people are first attracted to the physical, not what is inside. You look across the room, and your eyes meet, you check each other out, and you judge whether or not the other person is worth your time....in a matter of seconds.

Do you judge a book by its' cover? Would you buy a book based soley on the images portrayed? Tell us about your FAVORITE book cover.

Sandy

YA (Young Adult) Books Gaining Adult Readers

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Genre Lines Blur Between Adult and YA Fiction (Part 3)

This week I offer part 3 in a series of articles that I have found pertaining to Young Adult novels. Like adult story lines, books aimed at young adults are marketed with controversial subject matter and content, that once was considered taboo. Sandy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With the popularity of the Gossip Girl, It Girl and the Clique series, young adult books are becoming more widely read by adults, for their racy content and unique style.

It must have started with Judy Blume, around the same time, when FOREVER was released and adults were in an uproar, from its' frank sexual content. From that point, books marketed for a young adult audience have been slowly increasing their range of content and subject matter, and tackling all kinds of controversial, albeit relevant topics.

Everything from homosexuality, rape, abuse, self-mutilation, mental illness/suicide, eating disorders, and any kind of addiction imaginable became plots or sub-plots of YA novels.

Parents at first, became worried at what their tweens and teens were reading, however it was only a matter of time until adults became bored with their targeted fiction selections and wandered inconspicuously into the YA section of their local bookstore to find out what the fuss was about. Curiosity led the way to a new trend of adults indulging in the guilty pleasure of YA novels.

YA Book Sales Increasing Despite a General Decrease in Overall Book Sales

From a publisher's standpoint, it is clear that YA books are selling better than their adult counterparts. According to the Book Industry Study Group, sales of YA books have increased by 23 percent since 1993 while adult book sales have decreased in the same time period by one percent. Clearly there are a lot of people reading and buying YA books, and for the publisher this is a good thing.

YA Books Are the New Chick Lit

It was only a few years ago when the genre of 'chick lit' (novels geared toward 20-something females) was all the rage. It was difficult to pass a bookstore or turn on the TV without hearing about Bridget Jone's Diary, The Devil Wears Prada or Sex and the City.

Once the genre took off, it became inundated with chick lit. It became inescapable, to the point where readers became bored. How many books about single women looking for love, escaping a hellish employer or a play by play of their sexual conquests could be read before the target demographic got bored and moved on? Interestingly, around the time that chick lit hit its' plateau, YA books were beginning their incline.

YA's Appeal to Adult Readers

So what is it about the YA genre that has adults and teens alike flocking to the shelves for the latest book in the Gossip Girl series or Clique series? Mainly because it fills a gap that ex-chick lit readers have been hungry for.

Consider the subject matter disclosed in a large majority of popular YA fiction, most of it resembles at its cores, the thing that made chick lit and other adult fiction so popular: a mix of social and societal trends and a light, easy-reading appear. Factor in the steamy R-rated scenes and it's easy to understand the appeal YA has on a large audience.

The bottom line is that YA is more a point-of -view as opposed to a particular age demographic. They are fun, light and easy to digest. As for the racy content, it's just one more reason adults can indulge in these books without the lingering feeling of being a literary pedophile.

http://lisa-rufle.suite101.com/ya-books-gain-adult-readers-a47267

I personally have read the Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer, Mortal Instrument Series by Cassandra Clare, Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon, House of Night Series by PC & Kristin Cast, Thirst Series by Christopher Pike and have several more in my TBR pile.

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What YA-Young Adult books or series of books have you read?

Do you think the content is controversial?

Would you let your 13-15 year old child read the books you are currently reading?

Sandy