I liked the Dahl, and Molly well enough to try another of hers, for sure.

@ Julie James:
Thanks for visiting! I will definitely post on the feminist theme in Practice Makes Perfect, soon. And of course, you are more than welcome to visit and comment any time.

@ Tumperkin:
It’s hard to read about one’s own profession in romance. Hence my views on the way the heroine professor was portrayed in the McCarthy (now watch, McCarthy’s probably an academic, and I will have to eat my words!).

I’m afraid I’m in agreement on romantic suspense. I concluded very quickly after reading a few that they’re not really for me. I don’t like cop shows either. That’s not to say that the individual books and writers aren’t individually good but they don’t really satisfy me or appeal to me.

Also, I must admit to avoiding lawyer books like the plague for obvious reasons.

Maybe I should meet my prejudices head on and try romantic suspense with lawyers.

Oh– and if you do decide to do a blog on the gender issues raised in PMP, can I drop by? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

And thanks for the mini-review of Crash! I’m always thrilled when someone BUYS it, let alone reads/reviews. Hope you’ll try another rom suspense, by me or someone else.

A lot of reviewers took varying degrees of issue with Molly’s secrets but I had no trouble accepting them at all. Then again, I have very definite boundaries in my life even with the people I love the best (in other words, I’m not yet at “accept or shove” status even at the decrepit age of 40

I am very (very) nearly as decrepit as you, but I think even if one accepts Molly’s “baseline”, i.e. her secretive nature is just who she is, you have to admit she had little character arc in this book. That’s something I look for: love changing the h/h for the better. I did like it well enough, though, and maybe I will have to try a Dahl historical.

The only book on the list that I’ve read is Talk Me Down, which I really enjoyed. A lot of reviewers took varying degrees of issue with Molly’s secrets but I had no trouble accepting them at all. Then again, I have very definite boundaries in my life even with the people I love the best (in other words, I’m not yet at “accept or shove” status even at the decrepit age of 40) so perhaps I’m more able to identify with her.

If you liked Victoria Dahl, her historicals are quite nice. The second in particular (pay no attention to the cover, really).

Don’t give up on the entire romantic suspense sub-genre from just one bad book!!! Have you read Suzanne Brockmann? Try PRINCE JOE or THE UNSUNG HERO (the first books in her two navy SEAL series) or FORBIDDEN (first in 2 book Bartlett bros series). I’ve also liked the few Virginia Kantra books I’ve read.
I agree that adulterous alcoholics make bad romantic heroes. I want all my heroes to be the pinnacle of honor and decency.
Glad you had fun on your vacation!

Thanks!

I think I may need to do a post on rom suspense.

Crash Into Me wasn’t a bad book at all. I enjoyed it, as much as I can enjoy a subgenre that I finally have to face is just not for me (and that’s the kind of reviewer point Jill Sorenson or Victoria Dahl or any author has every right to just gnash their teeth over — I’m sorry!!). I have read The Unsung Hero, and it did little for me. I have also read some Jaci Burton, Pamela Clare, Linda Howard, and several Jayne Ann Krentz. And while I liked aspects of all of these books, I just find I strongly prefer straight contemp, paranormal, or historical over rom suspense.

I definitely don’t need my heroes to be perfect — I read JR Ward, Lisa Kleypas, and my all time favorite is probably Laura Kinsale — but I do have to understand what attracts the heroine, besides looks.

I agree that adulterous alcoholics make bad romantic heroes. I want all my heroes to be the pinnacle of honor and decency.

Glad you had fun on your vacation!