Why I Stopped Reading in the Dark

 With age comes many things like aches, pains, plenty of memories to reminisce over, changing interests and changing awareness. And, the propensity to voice opinions.

Awareness is a funny thing. A lot depends on exposure to something, either a person, an idea, a religion or an event in one's life that brings about that awareness. Sometimes it's a combination of things.

I've been a huge fan of paranormal romance for almost 25 years. In that time I have seen many a series change, growing darker and darker, pushing the envelope trying to stay 'relevant', suspenseful, interesting, exciting and dramatic.  Sex scenes became more numerous, more descriptive, again pushing the envelope into areas that used to be exclusive to the porn industry. They explored the realm of underground deviant and perverse lifestyles, basically taking their fans along for the ride. The result is that these lifestyles are now seen as acceptable because the heroes and heroines 'fall in love' in the process. It's led to readers thinking it can't be bad because it's part of the 'love process'. What is actually going on is desensitization.

Love isn't sex in all its aspects. It isn't sex at all. Nor is love a feeling; it's an action, and choices made furthering the action of loving someone - be it family, friend, potential spouse or significant other - love's actions are supposed to be for the good of another, the uplifting of another, supporting the other for their happiness. It's a mind thing as well - it's above a feeling. It's more than a feeling. Relegating love to a feeling is a disservice to its reality.

How did this awareness come about? At first, it started off as a niggle of 'suspicion'. There was this sense that what I was reading wasn't right.  I was a ginormously huge fan of Christine Feehan, as well as Laurell K. Hamilton, Katie Macalister, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Lynsay Sands, and I enjoyed books by Sandra Hill, Gena Showalter, Lauren Dane, Lori Foster, Jeaniene Frost, Harely Wylde, J.R. Ward, Tessa Dare, and Emma Holly. There's a thread that they all have in common - lust, sex, whatever you want to call it -  and over time the prevalence of showing a growing love being proved through sex.  Some included scenes more graphic than others but it accomplished the same goal.  That bedroom with a view was blown open wide and the camera angle was as close as a gynecologist gets. And yet for the longest time, I didn't see anything wrong with it. After all, it was romance.

When a reader follows a series over many years, it's a gradual development and it all seems to make sense and it's perfectly rationalized.  When the author has a blessed skillset, a true gift for their craft, a reader doesn't realize or is even aware of what is happening to their mind, their sense of morality, and the subconscious undermining or warping of the definition of a committed relationship.  All a reader knows is that the hero or heroine was saved by the love of the other. That it was 'romantic' and if there was suspense while they overcame incredible odds to reach their happily ever after - the open doorway of the bedroom was part of the exhilaration of celebration. It was the payoff. All of it, premarital.

Anyone who has read this far is probably expecting that I'm going to bring religion into the conversation. They'd be right.  The question is, how am I going to do it? And why?

The why is easy - because of my faith. Because I'm on a faith journey to mature that belief and in doing so, I've become more aware. It clarified that the initial niggles were alerts to a threat to my soul's wellbeing. The next question is, what was it that triggered the awareness?  A scene from a paranormal romance book from one of my favorite authors. It mentioned the use of powerful holy water that destroyed something completely evil.   

When I first read the story, I didn't enjoy it as much as others I have devoured in the past.  I didn't understand why, I only knew I didn't like it. Then a half year or so later, I read it again, but with new perception.  The holy water scene was devoid of what makes holy water ...well...holy. There is only one religion on this earth that is capable of blessing water to make it holy, and only one kind of person that can bless it and make it holy - a Catholic priest. It's a Catholic thing. Not only that, holy water is a sacramental. It is water blessed by a priest to impart God’s blessing on those who use it. That is where the power comes from. That scene now rings hollow because the author uses the power of something without acknowledging what makes it powerful in the first place. There will be some readers that might argue that it's just fantasy, it's fiction, that authors are allowed creative liberties and doesn't do any harm, and that readers should apply willing suspension of disbelief and advise people like me to just shut up and enjoy the story. That's a no-can-do. 

Why? Why do I have to say anything about this topic at all? Because if I don't say anything, readers who have no exposure to the idea, concept or reality of holy water will not be aware of just how truly special, powerful and important holy water is; nor of its significance. They won't understand why any author that incorporates its use in a supernatural way devalues it and actually robs it of the power they claim it has because they don't associate it with a bona fide religion. Holy water is used in exorcisms. It makes sense that the author used it to help destroy something evil.  The use of holy water in the movies I have seen correlates with Catholic priests, heirs of the apostolic Tradition. Sure, there are Protestant ministers that try exorcism but if they can't handle cases of possession, I've read that they refer them to the Catholic Church for expulsion. There's a reason for that.

Now that most of the series I followed are venturing more and more into the occult, playing around with souls, controlling nature and fighting demons, all without the actual tools that would make it plausible, without any nod to God's power but highlighting only man's, and with the addition of explicit sex scenes, those series are hell-bent on leading readers away from one or more of the ten Commandments - a list of universal moral laws that guide a healthy society. Is it intentional on the authors' parts?  I highly doubt that. Everything I've read about some of my favorite authors confirms that they're nice people who love their families and friends and who certainly care for their readers. That doesn't immute the fact that their stories' content affects readers' minds and leads them away from God. All I have to do is read some of their fans' reviews to see the truth. Heck, all I have to do is read some of my own written reviews to see I was no different.  What changed was my awareness, and I stopped reading not only Christine Feehan's Dark series, but anything dark. 

When Emma Holly started writing about an angel having sex, and pushed the envelope further by exploring an M/M relationship - that struck a nerve and I stopped reading her books. I wasn't bothered by the sex scenes for the longest time.  I thought more was better and Emma Holly delivered. But when she started using and warping a heavenly being the way she did, that was another lightbulb moment. 

When LKH wrote about a relationship with a borderline underaged character - were-animal or not - and rationalized it out, that made me uncomfortable. Add in the growing multitude of partners, justifying it all for the sake of the story and continuation of the series, reading ceased to be a joy. The initial books in the series had a solid delineation of good vs evil. That's all but gone. Supposedly Anita was a 'believer' and there's a mixture of religion in the series, like when her cross would get hot, or other references of religious power that Anita wielded when it was convenient to the storyline. That's all well and good, but again, it leads readers to contemplate, whether consciously or not, that a crucifix or holy water are equated to magical talismans, as magic on command and demand. Great for effect but does a disservice overall because the cumulative result is a loss of awareness, a desensitization to wrongness.

My favorite genre, paranormal romance, has gone to the dark side. Someone is going to think, 'but it's aways been that way, that element has always been there', and they'd be right. However, I believe that it's gotten darker over the past ten years.  Look at Christine Feehan's two latest series - the Shadow series and the Torpedo Ink series. Look at the plots. Have you read them? Yes, she's skilled and talented and a wonderful wordsmith. It's the pervasive and increasing darkness that is weaving through all of her new works that saddens me. It scares me too because no one sees or cares how some of those themes can have a negative impact on vulnerable or susceptible minds. How easy it is to get caught up in it, especially when publishers are encouraging it, too. There are way too many writers that are falling into this trap. I mention Ms. Feehan because she was my favorite for many, many years and I've spent a good chunk of change feeding my Dark addiction. 

To use a corny and overused cliche, I've seen the light. 

It wasn't an overnight or sudden enlightenment.  Nor has it been an easy change because I'm still going through it.  I continue revamping and reevaluating my keeper shelf and my reading choices.  It pains me to get rid of over 150 books, some even author-signed, with more to cull I'm sure, and realize a chapter in my life is closing. I've been on this truth-train for two years and it's been uncomfortable. It IS uncomfortable. I'm sure it will continue to be so but I believe and know it's in my best interests to persevere. 

What has helped?  Well, I'm sure you expect me to say my parish priest, and you'd be right, although there's been three of them so far.  All with different perceptions and viewpoints, and like steps on a garden path - they've helped me move forward. Then there are the books I've checked into. 

The most profound and helpful is a book written by Mother Angelica from EWTN - Mother Angelia's Answers, Not Promises. She's funny, insightful, and tackles the hard questions with wisdom and a relatability that is penetrating my hard head. It has a warm delivery like from a friend who cares, and she wants her readers to have a relationship with God - one that gets us away from hell and into Heaven. In this book she addresses questions I never thought to ask, didn't know I needed to or should. I've been so blinded by all the books I've read.  And I'm telling you, Mother Angelica is spot on when she says that ideas and concepts through books, movies and radio have lasting effects and can color how you interpret a situation through that colored lens. 

How can this be possible? 

Try this example. Years ago, at weddings, or even at parties or proms, if there were single girls who wanted to dance, they, and society, thought nothing of them dancing together.  Dancing was dancing. It was fun and you were with friends and it was a celebration of music and joy. Innocent. 

Now-fast forward to 2024. You see two girls dancing together and what is the first thing you think?  Do you label what you see?  Do you form an opinion? Do you classify and accept it as innocent like folks used to do in years gone by, or do you automatically interpret the relationship and label it?  I bet you do. Our lens isn't as simple, easy or innocent as it once was because of what we've heard, seen and read these past fifteen years or so. 

That proves to me that when a mind is fed darkness through stories or by watching dark films, the perception of what a person sees and hears can be colored by a lens that includes that information. It becomes part of the subconscious mind.  

I'm not saying that we should go back in time to the old ways. There's a lot that needed to be changed and improved.  What I am saying is that a lack of discernment on what one reads, sees or listens to has a much more profound effect than people realize. 

The question then becomes - and for which I have no answer for - how does one teach discernment to tweens and teenagers when the dark influences in society have a louder voice because they are a LOT more fun and can be found everywhere they turn?

One opinion is to steer them away from dark paranormal fiction similar in vein to the Twilight series - it's a gateway. Werewolves and were-bears, vampires, witches, mages and warlocks, tarot cards, Ouija boards, fairies and Djinn, psychics and crystal balls, all sound like they're part of a silly make-believe world, full of adventure and break-the-rules possibilities - but like icebergs, they may be 'white' and pretty on top, but that underside is dark, deep, huge and deadly. 

 My friends, isn't it time to escape the dark?

I Tried a Book Out of My Comfort Zone

Sometimes, reading out of my comfort zone is ... well, uncomfortable.

The blurb of the book sounded rather interesting.

The Fate of Mercy Alban by Wendy Webb (Author), Kirsten Potter (Narrator), Blackstone Audio, Inc. (Publisher) It was an Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Grace Alban has spent 20 years away from her childhood home, the stately Alban House on the shores of Lake Superior - for reasons she would rather forget. But when her mother’s unexpected death brings Grace and her teenage daughter home, she finds more than just her own personal demons haunting the halls and passageways of Alban House. Long-buried family secrets, a packet of old love letters, and a lost manuscript plunge Grace into a decades-old mystery about a scandalous party at Alban House during which a world-famous author took his own life and Grace’s aunt disappeared without a trace. That night has been shrouded in secrecy by the powerful Alban family for all of these years, and Grace realizes her family secrets tangle and twist as darkly as the hidden passages of Alban House. Her mother was intending to tell the truth about that night to a reporter on the very day she died. Could it have been murder, or was she a victim of the supposed Alban curse? With the help of the disarmingly kind - and attractive - Reverend Matthew Parker, Grace must uncover the truth about her home and its curse before she and her daughter become the next victims.

One thing I can say - the writing was good. The atmosphere was at times, spooky, exciting, interesting and surprising.

I started to like the story until, I didn't.

I'm not a fan of witchcraft because it's inherently full of pitfalls, like pit, evil, negative, scary and rather depressing.

I looked at some reviews and I agreed with one of them. The mystery was solid, the clues were riviting and it's rather Gothic in nature. But, it really didn't need to be warped by the supernatural angle. The mystery could have stood on its own. I agree with that statement.

I enjoyed discovering that the old house didn't just have a couple of secret passageways, it was riddled with them. It was fascinating. Until I later discovered how effective they were for someone with ill intent.

Eventually, all the secrets are revealed, the villian is dead, and a family can finally look towards the future.

The Fate of Mercy Alban was 42 chapters of revelations, horrors, surprises, shocks and a rather tame romantic theme.

What left a very sour taste and left an unpleasant sensation in my brain, was the epilogue.

This is a spoiler so don't read any more if you intend to read the story.

*******

The evil pouring out of the book to seduce, warp and corrupt two innocent young girls, girls that up until that point were well-loved by their families, were kind of sweet, and shown to have genuine caring and sympathetic personalities, was a vile and sick way to end this book. I was not happy. I was actually disgusted. If that was supposed to hint at a sequel, I won't read it.

Especially after what I went through learning all about the actual fate of Mercy Alban.

If I had to pick anything from this story that was truly horrific and earned the moniker of a supernatural horror story, the epilogue condensed it in a nutshell. Right before the end of the last chapter, the heroine of the novel, Grace Alban, makes a remark that forshadows the epilogue.

Do you know what this kind of ending feels like?

The ending of the 1977's Empire of the Ants. Just when they thought they made it. After going through the guantlet, after fighting to survive against incredible, stacked-against-you odds, they failed. All of it was WORTHLESS! The evil ants WIN. A giant WASTE of my time!!! Why did I bother watching this???

You know, except for Star Wars, 1977 was a sucky year.

Why do I say that? 1977 also brought The Kingdom of the Spiders with William Shatner.

Guess what? EVERYONE DIES even after valiant attempts to survive. The spiders WIN! WHY do people call the end of civilization by creepy crawly means, entertainment?

Another giant WASTE of my time. Why did I bother watching this??? Oh, yeah. That's right. William Shatner. Ha.

Seriously though, The Fate of Mercy Alban gave me the same sensation once I finished the book.

I'm a reviewer. I'm supposed to not give spoilers. If I'm too negative or snarky, they can't use my review. But how can I express what drove me nuts without saying WHAT got my goat?

That means I write about the story on my blog. I don't get too many readers here anymore because I'm sporadic at best about posting blog posts. But this book upset me so much, it drove me to write this post. I had to put it here because no way could I do this in my 'official' capacity. It's a bit too opinionated, and it leaves a visitor with the impression that I ended up not liking this book.

They'd be right.

Book Discovery: A Winter Wedding

This is a novel that was published in 2014 but I only recently discovered it. I guess it's a good thing because my reading it now is during a period of time when I'm less anomored of the books I've recenly tried to read and I was hoping for something to lift my spirits.

It's my observation that there is a lot more sex in stories than there needs to be. Perhaps that is why I liked this story by Amanda Forester so much - there was only enough to prove the burning passion between them. There is the temptation, a scene filled with a taste of the forbidden, then the final capitulation resulting in expressions of love and sealing their marriage commitment. The element that the author included, and for which made a favorable impression, was the heroine's turning to her faith during times of insecurity, confusion and seeking guidance. It's not heavy-handed at all. It reads as natural as a person thinking about anything else when being in a situation of unusual uncertainty and stress.

This is the blurb: This adventurous duke...has met his match The Duke of Marchford requires a suitable bride, but catching spies for the Foreign Office takes up most of his time. Not wanting to face another London season as an eligible man, he employs the notorious Madame X to find him a match.

Miss Penelope Rose knows the rules of marriage among members of the ton better than most. Her own unsuccessful attempts at matrimony did not stop her from becoming London's most exclusive matchmaker. Marchford proves to be a difficult client, but as he draws on her social expertise to help him flush out a dangerous traitor, they find that falling in love may be the riskiest adventure of all.

The weird part is that I didn't read the blurb. I just picked up the book and started reading. It wasn't the cover, the author or anything else that prompted me to try it out. The book was passed down from a friend, and since I trust her judgement and have always liked her reading choices in the past, I figured that there was a good shot I'd like it. I, in fact, adored it!

I enjoyed the strong female character, the stubborn hero, the hero's opinionated grandmother and a few other unnamed secondary characters that will remain anonymous because of their roles in the plot. A plot, I may add, that is solid, well-thought out and thoroughly entertaining and thrilling.

If readers of this blog post are romance readers, like a bit of romantic suspense, a story light on sex and heavy on seduction, titillating scenes, near misses and a satisfactory moment of completion, with some explosions, spies, daring-do and close call rescues, then this book should hit all the right buttons.

This might be a novel from 2014, but it's a great read for 2021 too!!

What Grabbed My Attention

I know I've been absent from the Saturday Seven - I needed a bit of time to come up with something to write about.

It's not always easy to find a different angle that has yet to be done. I think I might have found it.

As you've probably guessed from my previous posts, I have a HUGE bent towards the paranormal, fantastical and fantasy.

What grabs me often is the title of the book, or the back-cover synopsis or even the authors themselves. Rarely does the book cover alone make me buy or read a book.

This first book to pop into my head was How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrilyn Sparks. The title inspired me to pick it up, the back-cover synopsis prompted me to buy it. I have read practically every book Ms. Sparks has written. What a ride that series was. Now, she has a new series and, because I was so happy with the previous one, I gave it a whirl. Yes, it's the author herself that had me buying into the new series. She still rocks!



This book broke my rules of not making decisions based on a cover. Karen Marie Moning's Kiss of the Highlander showcased only the bottom of a man's face. For a long, long time, book publishers only showed this model's arms or in this case, his lips. How often does a reader get a visceral reaction just from a man's lips? I did. Oh, wow did I ever.

I read every title in that series and couldn't wait for more ... until she shifted focus with that Fever series she has going. I read it because of the author. I kept reading because of the mystery of one of the key characters. I stopped reading it once the two protagonists finally admitted loving each other and that made me happy, but at the same time, the book had taken a dark turn. I haven't read another book since. Every back cover synopsis or blurb I've read since confirms my belief that the series is too dark, hopeless and unpleasant for my tastes.

For this next book, Undead and Unemployed, I thought the title was clever. The synopsis was also unique which is good because I was never a fan of the cover artwork. So, the title is what made me pick it up, and the heroine, Betsy sounded original. The book was funny, punny and a hoot. So, I got the first book in the series, enjoyed that too and continued to read the others in the series for quite a while. I stopped because Eric, the hero, drove me nuts. The feeling like their relationship was on a never ending gerbil wheel finally got to me. And I stopped. Until I reached that point, however, I laughed and giggled during every book.

The next book that grabbed me wasn't based on the title or cover but the synopsis. Slave - The Cat Star Chronicles by Cheryl Brooks sounded really unique. A few survivors from a planet that no longer exists because some dude with Darth Vader syndrome blew it up? Add in that the heroes' very interesting sexual talents were ... definitely different. I ended up reading the entire series and I enjoyed every single one. I was actually sad to see the series end.


And then there was this, Pooka in my Pantry by R.L. Naquin. How could I pass up a title like that? How about the first book, Monster in my Closet? Then came Fairies in my Fireplace. I have read every single book in that series and it was totally engaging. They take turns being humorous and serious but always highly imaginative. Sure, the titles grabbed me but the stories kept me.

An unusual book caught my eye one day, Infected: Prey (Infected, #1) by Andrea Speed. In that book I met Roan and fell a little in love with the character. It's M/M, yet not. What I mean is, this book was more a mystery with lots of suspense, investigations and unique challenges for the main hero, Roan. To a reader it's quite clear that Roan and Paris are two guys who really love each other despite or in spite of their health challenges. Due to a virus, hence the 'infected' reference, Roan can turn into a ferocious lion. The cost is rather high and debilitating. But the guys' physical expressions of love and lust were mostly behind closed doors. I think what hooked me was the best part - there was PLOT, substance and damaged, fallible characters that made an impact. I've gobbled up the books in the series since. The book had the best synopsis hook and I'm so glad I discovered it. So title and synopsis were the key elements that grabbed me.

Last but not least was this title that grabbed me, Size Matters by Robyn Peterman. The cover was certainly quirky, but it was the synopsis that clinched it. When I read Hasselhoff, Bigfoot, and Sasquatch hunters, it was an immediate buy. How could I not? I laughed and laughed and had a riot of a good time reading it. I tried other books in the series because of this one, but none had the same high-powered comic level Size Matters did.

So, those are samples of what, as a reader, grabs me most. I think the conclusion is, it's a toss up between title and synopsis.

What about you? What's your favorite hook?

Oh, and please visit the other contributors to the Saturday 7 - it's a great way to discover new reads!!!

The Black Holes of Romance Books

My mind has taken a bizarre twist today. I have two sons. Boys find body humor hilarious. I think we all did as kids but as adults, we supposedly grow out of it. Yet, no matter our age, 8 - 80, when a toot occurs in an incongruous arena and takes us by surprise? We revert to the inner child and giggle, snicker or disguise our laugh with a cough. No matter what, we tap into the humor. Yes, it might be embarrassing for the tootee, but it's hard to keep a straight face sometimes.

Romance stories tend to gloss over or outright ignore the basic things we do. Sometimes, daringly so, an author will include it. If they include the scene just right, it can be hilarious. But that's the exception to the rule. For most, they simply don't exist! The black holes of romance.

1) Lovers wake up in the morning and immediately proceed to engage in passionate kissing. Some actually dare to mention 'loving his or her smell'. Really? Morning breath has fans? It's a great scene when an author can make that moment funny. There are a few books out there that address this. Most just ignore it. Personally, I find it very hard to ignore. Oral hygiene is one thing that tends to fall into a black hole.

2) It goes by many names but I'll just refer to it as 'toots'. Rare is the book that can mention it in a comic sense. There's only ONE book that comes to mind and it's The Corset Diaries by Katie MacAlister. It was the first occasion I had ever seen a toot used in hilarious context and the memory of it remains to this day. Otherwise, it's another black hole when it comes to romance stories.

3) Burps. I'm not talking about burping babies, or manly belches after consuming beer. I'm referring to scenes in a romance book where the natural result of eating or drinking fast never happens. Have you ever opened your mouth to say something and a burp bursts out? How about meeting the parents of your date at a nice restaurant and a burp makes a loud entrance? Burps happen. Often at the most innocuous of times. Yet, I don't read about it in romance book scenes. Burps all fall into a black hole.

4) Brushing teeth. There are some who do broach that subject. A few call it by name, many refer to it as 'freshening up'. But to have a his and hers teeth brushing scene? It's not really romantic, is it? So, unless it's put in there as a means to get beyond 'morning breath', it's not really put in there. IRL we all do it but since it's fantasy, heroes and heroines have perfect teeth all the time. Unless it's the book How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks. Ms. Sparks made a vampire needing a dentist, funny. Otherwise? Another black hole moment.

5) A long shower without sex. Seriously. Most of the stories I've read fall into two categories - long showers for sex, alone or with others, OR they are the fastest dang events in history. If a heroine has long hair and she takes a shower, HOW can she be 'ready in 10 or 5 minutes"? When I freshen up, it's shower, drying, teeth, and body function (you pick the order), perfuming and/or powdering - HOW can that be done in less than 10 minutes? Of course the hero looks at the heroine with appreciation and compliments her on how sexy and well put together she is. Seriously? My hair would be a limp rat down my back, I'd probably still be damp and will have toothpaste stuck to the side of my mouth. And makeup? Forget it! So, realistic bathroom procedures go down into a black hole.

6) Meals. They are always perfect. They always have the best, fresh ingredients. They are always ready in minutes, no matter how complicated they are. And what's with always making this pasta Bolognese dish? From the recipes I've checked out, it's not exactly fast and I would NOT just happen to have the ingredients on hand. That would take planning. But, in romance stories, they never plan and their omelettes never turn into scrambled eggs. Having a kitchen experience I can relate to in a romance story is nonexistent. A culinary black hole.

7) I can't think of one book that I've read in the past 5 years that even has a hero or heroine blowing their nose (without being sick), having an embarrassing nose goblin or sneezing in a realistic manner - you know the kind, it sort of echos, has moisture torpedos zooming across the room at mach speed and you feel dizzy with relief afterwards, which quickly morphs into embarrassment when you notice everyone is looking at you? Never happens in romance books. A nose's antics are definitely black hole-worthy.

I think the only author that even approaches tackling some of this black hole list in her books and makes them funny is actually Katie MacAlister. I'd be curious to know if you have found other authors who ingeniously, and perhaps even hilariously, interweaves some of this list in the course of telling their romance story. If so, please share. I'll add them to my TBR pile. It would be nice to find out the black hole in romance isn't as deep as I thought.

Romancing the Demon

There's been an uptick of using Christian beliefs as a fantasy world.

Angels lose their wings because they've succumbed to the lust of a human woman. 

Demons being redeemed or seen as heroes and acting like any normal guy with regular needs, with a few interesting appendages complicating things.  

I understand that authors take poetic license; it's free speech after all. However, the stories of the Bible come from a world with the lines specifically drawn. 

Some of the best stories come from writers who think outside the box and challenge longheld or current beliefs. I give credit where credit is due. 

For those that are stronger in their faith, this manipulation of their basic tenets and understanding of their faith, and the romancing of evil, is a bit hard to swallow.  I highly doubt that a certain other religion would tolerate such a desecration of their beliefs. In fact, they kill people for less.  So, why do folks seem to think it's okay to treat the Christian faith with a cavalier manner?  Well, we certainly won't rise up and do harm - well, we shouldn't. There are extremes in any form of human decision. I suppose, if authors do any level of research, and they're ... undecided, perhaps a kernel of spiritual truth will find fertile ground and some day bear fruit.  Therefore, not pouncing and making a big deal out of it could be viewed as a passive form of preaching. If there's something worth exploring and  writing about, conceivably there's a possibility that conversion of souls can take place.  They're being exposed to the Lord.  If it makes someone curious about real Christian practices and beliefs, then something good can come of it.  The Lord's work is accomplished by using people, tools and options most cannot even guess at, and not all of them are through "perfect" means, because, absolute perfection does not exist on this earth. We're all sinners.

I have drawn my personal line in the sand when anyone writes Lucifer as a being with feelings, with normal human lust and emotions and connections. First, he was an angel and angels were never, ever human.  He's the total absence of God, he's the darkest dark, and the instigator of the worst parts of the human condition; the destructor and violator of souls.  Not only is he not human but he's not redeemable nor something to trifle with. He's Sauron's worst nightmare,  Freddy Krueger is a novice in comparison, and the  human mind simply cannot fathom the depths of wrongness that is Lucifer. So to romanticize him, make him act, talk or yearn for things as a human male would is, frankly, abhorrent to me. 

If they want to use the premise of angels and demons, take them out of this world, make them aliens, a different dimension and/or write it under the sci-fi/fantasy genre and disassociate it from the Christianity that is practiced here on earth. Use Greek or Roman mythology, like Hades or Pluto, instead of something that is alive and real.

I practice a lot of 'willing suspension of disbelief' when I read, but when it comes to my religion, I'm unwilling to compromise and suspend my beliefs for the sake of enjoyment.  The beauty, strength, grace, forgiveness and love of my God is not something I'll ever be willing to suspend, even for a book written by a favorite author. 

For me, romancing demons and the devil is not an option. 

When News Fails

I'm not perfect. Few people are. But there are some places where there should be a higher standard and that is in news reporting.

I am not a fan of one of my local news sources unless you count the gleeful pouncing on all editing goofs.

Look at this link for however long it stays available:
http://wwlp.com/2016/06/11/snake-falls-off-dashboard-onto-drivers-feet/

I question many things but the most basic question is, How will watching your feet prevent a snake from getting into your car? That has to be one of the most stupid, idiotic and nonsensical statements ever.  I'm wondering if it was out of context?  Surely people aren't that simple.  The reporter could have left that part out but instead had to use that dubious quote to end the 'report'.

I wonder,  how can a snake move about a hot engine unscathed when said car was traveling at high speeds, generating enough heat off of the engine to fry an egg?

And, she waits to pull over in a parking lot?  " Knowing the snake had crawled back up into her engine, Swisher had no other option but to pull off of I-49 and into the nearest shopping center, "

What, the side of the road wasn't close enough?
And, if it was ON the dashboard, isn't that   within view of a person's FACE?    I mean, I see a CUP on a dashboard, could not a person see a SNAKE?


So, I think the whole report is shoddy and a waste of time for a reader.  Because I was so miffed, I decided to blog about it.

I suppose, in a way, it gave me something to say because today may turn out be a slow news day anyway.

So What If It Was Written in 2004?

That's what I ask - so what? I can't review this at my normal place because I believe it's out of print; the publisher isn't selling it any longer. I have no idea if the author has her rights back or not but I'm going to talk about it anyway.

The Sexiest Dead Man Alive by Jane Blackwood
Contemporary Romance
320 Pages
Heat was definitely spicy
Old publisher was Zebra Books, part of Kensington Publishing Corp. I guess you can still snag a copy at Amazon - the big giant.

The title led me to believe that I was getting a paranormal romance but it's not and I didn't. It's about a really famous hunky heart throb that is so traumatized by the paparazzi, that he's become a super recluse. He's so hidden that he's considered dead. A person can't get more out of the public's eye than being dead and gone, right?

There's a problem though. Extreme solitude comes with the pitfall of being lonely, and if that hermit's cooking skills run the gamut of toast, cereal and microwaved meals, things like that can make a person crazy. So what to do? Hire someone to cook for you, right? But, who is going to want to cook for someone they've never seen, nor will ever? That's the first hurdle Declan, the hero, has to face.

The heroine has her own issues. They're more unrealized dreams - she wants to own her own restaurant someday but has to have the funds to do it. She's worked like a dog but things just aren't moving forward fast enough and she's out of options. Until, she sees the want ad.

You know where this is going right? Yes, she accepts the offer. But, even only hearing Declan's voice, Rose has an immediate reaction to his voice in her ears and right away a reader figures out that the heroine is VERY receptive to the hero. Which is good because he's more than a little receptive of her. Even though she can't see him, he can see her and it's becoming an obsession.

So, the courtship begins. It has it's ups and downs like all romances do but Declan's chip on his shoulder is a bit more than even Hercules would want to deal with. Guilt. Later on in the story, the guilt is turned on its ear and what a surprise that was. Talk about levels of angst!

Rose is funny, has a very twisted and off-beat sense of humor and is a wiz with food. She is actually the stronger of the couple as Declan's mental anguish and misconceptions and fear, fear with a capital F, has a tendency to take this stud and mire him down in his own emotional quagmire. He's really messed up. My good opinion of Declan was an up and down yo-yo affair but he's basically a decent guy. I personally liked Rose the best. She is in love with him, but she's a survivor too and that is one personality trait I'm glad the author endowed her with.

I really wanted to give this a solid 4 out of 5 rating but I can't. Mostly because of a glaring edit goof on pages 90 and 95 - the exact same three sentences were used twice. It stuck out like a sore thumb. And, because this is a older book, I even highlighted it to make sure I wasn't imagining it. No, it's really repeated. Even the great Kensington Publishing house isn't perfect.

However, to combat that negative, let me share one sentence that the author wrote in this novel:
"... and gazed up at the few stars bright enough to fight the moon for the sky."

That sentence felled me.
It's simply beautiful, eloquent and a masterful imagery that struck me with wonder. I LOVED that sentence. I highlighted that as well in the book.

Despite Declan's shortcomings, and a few strange side trips, plus a heart wrenching family situation, this is a very entertaining read. It has some strong storytelling elements worth checking out and a romance that had some extremely funny and unconventional moments.

The Sexiest Dead Man Alive may be an older book, and the author might not be writing anymore, but if you are able to find this at a library, a book sale or a used book store, it's a deal to pick up and read. I'm glad I took a chance on it because I actually enjoyed myself.

Fiction versus Belief

I have a gripe.

I recently read a book in an anthology in which most of the authors are unknown to me.
That's fine. Most of my favorite authors were introduced to me by reading anthologies in the beginning of my rediscovery of romance books. Since then, I always make it a point to read a few anthologies a year to find new authors and new book series to take on.
However, this one I did not like.

Sacrificed in Shadow by S.M. Reine in the Magic After Dark anthology.

The editing was fine
The pace was fine.
The author's voice was fine.
Even the basic premise of the story was interesting and engaging.

What I could not stomach was the underlying theme and the manipulation of the tenants of the Christian faith.

Yes, I realize that authors have the right to take poetic license.
I also realize that this tale is a book of fiction.
I also understand that for those that are not of the faith, don't believe or believe it's one giant fairy tale, the stories and history of the Bible are rich in creative fodder.

But for readers like me, I had a very difficult time separating my beliefs from the fiction written into this book.

Authors seem to love Lilith. She's a very wicked woman, I guess. Her story isn't part of my particular vein of Christianity.
In this novel, the author mentions that only the Star of David affected the heroine. Okay, that's fine. I never could understand why vampires were only ever affected by Christian symbols of faith. That always seemed a bit lopsided to me.

There was one statement where the heroine observed something that didn't bother her because it was blessed by man, not by God. I took umbrage to that because it's one of the things that IS changed by God through man - it is still touched by the Divine. It's not a ritual or tradition made meaningless because it's 'done by man'. It's an actual happening. So, I have to accept that the author took poetic license and made it to fit her world-building, which is again, fine. But if it's to subtly slide in her personal belief, then I, through my personal blog, will express my counter-opinion to that perspective and state that it IS touched by God and therefore relevant against evil.

Putting artistic interpretation of religion aside, I also felt that Lincoln, who featured so strongly in the beginning, ended up being a throwaway character. His actions at the end didn't thrill me. Oh, I understood his dilemma, but for all his strengths, he was weak. I had higher hopes for him.

The character of James was a conundrum. Hero or anti-hero, did the author give me enough to like him or hate him? I am not a fan of characters that practice duplicity on seemingly omnipotent levels. But I get the feeling that he was an excellent foil for the heroine.

As for the main character, Elise? Well, she was okay. She's a woman with a lot of emotional and physical baggage and her having to deal with them while trying to save the world did present some unique challenges. Was I sympathetic to her character? Not much.

I realize that this post is pretty darned negative to the story and it's probably because it's colored by my feelings - I don't enjoy stories that mess with demons and God and mix them up because I find them jarring and I want to argue about their misrepresentation.

All that being said, I believe it's true that this story will actually appeal to many paranormal romance readers because they more than likely can let this kind of stuff roll off their backs and take it with a grain of salt. If the book entertains them, then it's all good. There are other things that go on, dialogue, descriptions and environment that were well written and made the book easy to read.

At least I did give it a try. I did read the entire book to give it a chance to wow me. It just came up against this mental line in the sand and it's not until I read a story like Sacrificed in Shadow that I'm reminded that I actually have one. I'm pretty lenient on a lot of things, I've even read some M/M and BDSM books, (NO, not 50 Shades), and I'm not a fan of zombies At.All. But if I had to choose to read a book that twists my belief system or zombies, I'll read the zombie book.

I'm still in process of reading the rest of the Magic After Dark anthology book, but this bothered me enough to vent and the only place I can do that is on my blog.

I have to put this somewhere, why not here?

I read a cute book.  It doesn't have a home because Whipped Cream already did it.
So, I'm putting it here.


Healing the Fox by Michelle Houston. Published by Phaze Books.
It's M/M just so you know. 18 pages

The Blurb: When an injured fox comes into the wildlife rehabilitation center, Scott knows he isn't an ordinary animal, he's a shifter. Taking him home, Scott does his best to care for the injured shifter, and finds himself falling in love.
Knowing it would be selfish to ask Christian to stay, Scott has to decide if he will let Christian walk out of his life, hoping that his love will return.
My Thoughts on the book:
The most courageous thing a person can do when they love someone is to let them go when it’s the best thing to do for them. No one said it didn’t hurt or that it was easy but it’s what true love would do.

That’s the internal conflict that ends up fueling this story. Scott works at a place that rehabilitates injured wild animals. Never did he suspect that he’d find one of his own kind is such a scary and possibly fatal situation. I think he started falling in love then because of the care he gave and how sensitive he was to the other fox’s needs.

The story follows a slow and beautiful build-up towards true emotion and depth. The payoff is when the fox recovers enough to shift back into human and Scott meets Cris for the first time. Cris comes across as shy but I suspect that it’s mostly from his own burgeoning feelings. It has to be a lot to process. He also has a life agenda that had to have been weighing on his mind. He might have been in his animal form for most of it while he healed but the man inside observed and understood. I believe that because of the first action Cris initiated in the kitchen. He intuitively knew what to do to make a good impression on Scott and he was right.

The man-love is hot and yet sweet because Scott’s emotions are involved and they’re conflicted on top of it. He really wants to do the right thing but in the end he chooses the best thing. The writing of those scenes was well done and should make erotic romance readers happy. Actually the overall writing voice and style was well done. No complaints.

Healing the Fox is the perfect book to read for those looking for a short shot of woohoo. It is romantic, has characters whose feelings come across as real and even has a tender happily ever after to warm your heart. I enjoyed the story and am glad I read it.

A London Werewolf in America - I read it

I recently read a book whose very title had me interested in reading it.

I saw the movie, American Werewolf in London years ago. So what kind of story could the reverse be about? A fine romance, if I may say so. I liked it enough to write a review.

What do you think??

Title: A London Werewolf in America
Author: Pat Cunningham
Publisher: Siren Bookstrand
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length - #pages : 227


Review: The answer to what does a werewolf and a witch have in common is nothing and everything. Finding out what they do have in common and how they get to that point is a great read.

Darinda is the heroine. And she does earn the title of heroine because of all the things she has to do to keep herself alive as well as the hero. She doesn’t do martial arts, she doesn’t use a gun nor does she have to act like she’s got something to prove. She’s an ordinary woman living in a supernatural world and she just happens to have a bit of magic about her. Her familiar is deceptive and affective – just wait until the plot gets really hot – her friends are varied, funny or helpful, and she has a way with cards. She also has bucketfuls of integrity and loyalty which serve to not only garner respect from this reader as well as the hero, but serve to ratchet up the sensual tease and heat during the courtship. Not that she sees it as that, nor was it meant to be a mating intent. Just by the way she acts, the decisions she makes and the friends she’s made, she put herself in a position to be accepted by the very people who shun humans as being less than them. Darinda perseveres because she’s got guts, class and doesn’t run from the truth of her feelings. I enjoyed her character.

Roderick is a werewolf. In this world that Ms. Cunningham has created, humans are considered inferior but no less important as diversions, technological and societal movers and shakers which allow the supernatural communities to blend in and benefit from -- much to the detriment of some of the characters in this story. As for Roderick, he’s a misplaced alpha being forced to do as his mom says. His mother makes Mommy Dearest look like Mrs. Brady from the Brady Bunch. How he managed to stay sane and not become a bully is a testimony to his character and the strength of his inner alpha. I absolutely enjoyed the slow, gradual buildup of his character’s falling in love with Darinda. Being a guy, Were or not, he messes up and thinks with his partner ‘down South’, which presented this reader with some wonderful insight into both Roderick and Darinda.

The conflict is internal – want vs. oath, and external – who is trying to kill everybody? The mystery dogs their footsteps and Darinda ends up doing a lot of the sleuthing. It was refreshing to see a woman in a strong role without losing her femininity or brains. The villains are well couched in distraction and misleading clues, yet the author drops little hints along the way. Not that I figured it out until Ms. Cunningham wanted me to. It was a fascinating reveal. And something happened that totally caught me and one of the characters completely by surprise. I enjoy being astounded.

I thought the writing was tight, the dialogue flowed smooth and true to character, and the sensual dance between Roderick and Darinda as they fell in love was page flipping – will she or won’t she? I thought the secondary characters were well placed and described, and each contributed to the plot and story overall. I giggled when it was revealed just who Darinda was named after. In fact, her pixie buddy and her cat were oftentimes amusing and great fun in the scenes they appeared. I smiled many times throughout this story.

If this were to appear on a review site: I'd rate it a 4 1/2 on whatever scale they use if it's 1 out of 5. So, I'd say I was pretty happy with it. And when I'm happy with/about a book, I share. It's one of My Favorite things.

:-)

Being Quiet is not an option

I know that I've often said that I won't speak of politics or religion. A few things have come to light recently that have me sitting up and taking notice, and not in a good way. For instance is this article I just read about President Obama's transportation secretary coming up with this "great" idea about charging us motorists for the miles we travel. Tax our Travel This is the excerpt from the link that has me scared, wary and concerned.

The system would require all cars and trucks be equipped with global satellite positioning technology, a transponder, a clock and other equipment to record how many miles a vehicle was driven, whether it was driven on highways or secondary roads, and even whether it was driven during peak traffic periods or off-peak hours.

This opens the door to abuse. This opens the door to our rights being curtailed, and in the future, taken away. Think I'm overreacting? I don't think so. I think they (ok, think X-files conspiracy) are testing the waters. How strong are we as Americans? How alert are we to threats to our way of life? I don't care if it's a 'fellow American' promoting the idea, it's still wrong. It still smacks of another time, another place, another war. I mean, think about the quoted section I posted above. Can you get more specific than secondary roads? Why would they need such detailed history? Americans love the phrase "getting away from it all". That freedom would be taken away in a very subtle and rational-sounding progression until it was too late. Can we get more watched? Start on this slippery slope and the answer is YES. It will lead to our travels being controlled and monitored. Human nature being what it is...you know it's possible. I'm going out on a limb here, and state that if the Nazi's had had this kind of technology, they would have used it against the Jews when they started culling the population to pursue their evil and twisted reality. If the Nazi's had had the ability to track every civilian vehicle back then, the Underground's success would never have been what it was and many more innocents would have died. Hitler was a German, one of their own. The enemy within is what we need to be ever vigilant against. Yes, I admit to being very worried about these ideas and my choice of example is a bit extreme but I feel strongly about this. And if that is not bad enough, there is something else that stinks in the wind. Re-instating the Fairness Doctrine. I will admit to not being totally fluent in its ramifications but the bottom line is this: I hope that this in no way can alter our access to Freedom of Speech. Again, this is sounding like a subtle infringement leading to total suppression of our rights -- say the wrong thing on the wrong topic in the 'wrong' way and talk show hosts will be penalized. And what will those penalties be? Well, we certainly know what happens in other countries - people disappear. I know, I know, the law was around before. But it was discarded for a reason. Why do we need it back? We have the freedom to change the channel at any time and we have choice. I personally do not enjoy talk radio, but that doesn't mean it should not exist. I think the choice should be there if I change my mind. Right? Maybe the talk show hosts of various political beliefs and TV evangelists are being overly worried, but then again complacency is in itself a dangerous thing. If we don't rattle our sabers and respond, indicating that we will defend that which make America so unique and special against those who would seek to undermine from within, then they will have won. I think preserving our freedoms is worth talking about. I mostly read and review romance books. In that genre, there are many new and established authors who are pushing the envelope of what is written. We are now seeing M/M romances, Menages, BDSM and other alternative living and loving lifestyles. Do you really think that if the spoken word is controlled, monitored and/or suppressed that the written word won't be far behind? I happen to love the changes and the freedom. I don't want to lose it. So, I'm spouting on a subject I never thought I would have a reason to - politics. Now my head hurts...

A Diss on Demon Romance

What is it with paranormal books lately? I didn't mind the influx of vampire and werewolf/shifter romances. I liked most of the themes and the conflicts they presented. However, lately I've been reading more and more about demons. Demons with heart, demons that buck the systems of hell and demons living and romancing within the rules of hell. I've read five books/novellas set in this new direction and I'm not loving it. I'm finding they are trying to write romance within worlds where backstabbing, moral perversion, ethics corruption, hedonistic pursuits with soul stealing strings and torture/mayhem/ and various forms of disrespect are, well, respected. Those negative human traits are sought after and held in high esteem. Heck, even murder is ho-hum. Echoes of Dexter? What the heck is happening? Desensitizing? I'm not talking about redeeming them, having them save their souls or the power of true love saves all. There is no saving or changing. They remain as they are, demons. They remain in that world and their loving seems to embrace promiscuity, infidelity, mind/body/soul rape, and a twisted view of what love and the pursuit of romance is all about. I am not entertained. I am not accepting of this new line of writing and it makes me very uncomfortable in thinking new readers just getting into the racier levels of romance find themselves cavorting with demon lore as though it's normal, acceptable and desirable. I tolerate a LOT with vampires and werewolves. There's a decent thread among those stories that have much in common with what you'd expect from romance. I also find the marketing ploy of putting two established authors who write very well and are much loved by me with two newer writers who focus on this new demon line, tacky. Probably profitable, ( which is the bottom line, isn't it?) but I'm not happy. Are they trying to seduce me into reading these? Are they trying to entice me into accepting them by virtue of the other authors? Not working. OK, so I read them to give them a fair shake. I have been thinking about this for awhile but after reading these, I think I've read enough to cultivate a personal view. I give kudos for trying to find an untapped niche. I find some of the writing styles and capabilities are to be admired and acknowledged, but the topic, of making me sympathetic to life and love ( I use that word loosely) in the world of demons, is not creating a fan out of me. The closest I've come to is reading books with demons are books by Kim Harrison or L.A. Banks. There is a line I won't cross and their books straddle it. I have no idea what others think about this. I don't know if anyone has noticed this new trend or even if they have an opinion. I do. And I have shared it here. No. No. I do not like this latest fad/trend/story arc. Anyone have a different opinion?