BOOK OF THE YEAR 2007

Choosing my favorite book of 2007 was no easy task. It always comes down to personal preferences. I loved all the novels on my Top Ten List, each for different reasons. Choosing NEFERTITI by Michelle Moran from the Final Three was even more difficult, of course. Although all three were written most excellently with elements I love, NEFERTITI had absolutely everything I love in a story.

I've always been a history buff. I majored in it and I home educate my children with the Classical Method which has history as its backbone. I go through phases of fascination and right now I'm fascinated with Ancient History. NEFERTITI is set in Ancient Egypt. Quite simply, that's what put it over the edge from the rest of the list. The funny thing is I can't imagine writing a story set during ancient times myself! Well, okay, I do have a couple in the back of the head, but I am no where near ready to flesh them out.
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So, NEFERTITI is set in Ancient Egypt. What I also love about it is the variety of characters. Michelle once told me she has a hard time with characterization. You can't tell by reading her novel. Other authors probably know when we have a weakness we work twice as hard to overcome it, right? I know I certainly do. It really shows. Yes, there is Nefertiti, the ambitious, almost totally self-absorbed teenaged queen who grows into a paranoid, possessive pharoah wanna-be. The story is told by her level-headed sister, Mutny, who is two years younger. There's romance, but not for Nefertiti. As Mutny says, "Nefertiti doesn't fall in love. Men fall in love with Nefertiti." There's a domineering mother-in-law, Mutny's hardworking, altruistic parents, the Other Woman Kiya who's constantly threatening Nefertiti's position as Number One, lots of babies (gotta have babies!), and a sexy, self-absorbed Psycho Prince.


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No! Not him!


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Akhenaten The Heretic King. He starts out as a totally buff 17 year old, who flunked out of Megalomaniacs Anonymous I'm sure.


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Ooh, but there are a lot of nice kilts in this story (Kimber sighs and rests hand in chin to gaze at Yul Brynner's picture.)

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Oh, wait! Sorry. Back to NEFERTITI. One of the very nice kilts belongs to Mutny's true love, in fact. So, you see, the girl who deserves the romance, gets it.

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The plot twists around itself and esculates from Mutny's relationship with her sister and her sister's path to destruction. There is a Happily Ever After, but it comes at great cost. I think this makes it more believable.




NEFERTITI made the L.A. Times Bestsellers' List and went back for a second printing lickety-split.
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Michelle's next novel, THE HERETIC QUEEN is due out Autumn 2008.
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The deal for the next novel after that, CLEOPATRA'S DAUGHTER, has just been negotiated. It's about Cleopatra's three surviving children with Marc Antony. Naturally, I always wanted to know what happened to them myself!
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Michelle's had a stellar year! Way to go, Michelle.
;)
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Michelle's website: http://michellemoran.com/
Michelle's blog: http://michellemoran.blogspot.com/



I reviewed NEFERTITI on May 16th. You can click on May or on Michelle Moran's heading in the directory. The review is at the bottom of her list of columns.

Updated Directory

If you look to the left side of this blog, you'll see I've updated the directory. These include the books I've reviewed, but not yet Lady Bronco's. I've put Science Fiction Romance under Science Fiction, because I figure it's put under Romance everywhere else and I think (?) most of the SFR readers who come here like their books more on the Sci-Fi end of the spectrum than the Romance end. The authors who've generously advised and encouraged me get their own headings. This is my way of saying, "Thank you!"
;)

THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen

*This is NOT a complete review! This novel will be reviewed the first week of January 2008.*

Still trying to figure out what to give the romantics in your life? You might consider THE LUXE by Anna Godbersen. It's labeled a Young Adult Historical, but I'm sure Romance and/or Historical lovers of all ages will enjoy it.
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It's been a few years since I went through my fascination with the Victorian/Edwardian Era. I read a book called 'To Marry An English Lord.' It was all about American heiresses basically buying noble husbands to boost their families' prestige. The noble husbands had titles and lands, but very little money. The biggest such wedding was between Consuelo Vanderbilt and the Duke of Marlborough. If you read THE LUXE and you know about that real-life story, you'll see the similarities. The Heroine of THE LUXE is a bit more resourceful though, I'd say.
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I tried to speed-read THE LUXE and was sure I could, since I'm not particularly fascinated with the turn of the 20th century anymore. However, Ms. Godbersen's writing style is so gripping that I could not. I've only read the prologue and skipped ahead to a couple of scenes.
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I have one word of caution. If the recipient is under 17 and you don't know her well or know her mother well enough to ask if this book's okay to give, don't give it. Although the Hero and Heroine are over the age of consent, deeply in love, and committed to each other, there is no mention of contraception that I've seen. (And, yes, there was contraception available in that time period.) I haven't read far enough to know if there is a realistic portrayel of the consequences (good or bad) of unprotected sex. For an adult book, I have no problem with this. In fact, after being pregnant four times, I'm sick of the topic. I also know there are just as many naive 17 year olds as there are 14 year olds who know better, and that is why we ought to be considerate when giving or recommending any book to a young person. I know the media would have us believe all teens are 'active,' but my younger friends tell me it just isn't so. Assume nothing. Have respect for the family's values. 'Kay?
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THE LUXE is described as THE GOSSIP GIRLS of the Gilded Age. However, considering that all my younger friends I've asked say they are disinterested, dislike, or absolutely loathe the Gossip Girls, I have to believe this is NOT a good hook to use here. Rather, this is a fun book to read for anyone who loves Historical Romance, particularly those set around 1900. If you loved the movie, TITANIC, for example, you'll love this book - arranged marriage, true love with a poor boy, and fabulous wealth. You can read other reviews at Amazon.com but take them and mine with a grain of salt.
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P.S. If you're curious about what young people are saying about books these days, pop over to http://kimberan7.tripod.com/kimberannebula and go to the Compelling Profiles page. Some of my younger on-line acquintances were kind enough to enlighten me.
;)

And another new ARC

Another publisher has contacted me to review another new ARC! I am so incredibly flattered. All you aspiring authors really ought to think about reviewing books. I've found it an extremely educational experience.
;)
You know the drill. If I like this ARC or love it, I'll review it. If not, I won't.

Got a New ARC

A publisher contacted me last month and offered to send an ARC. This is a first for me! If you want the full story (or at least what I can tell you at this point), pop over to my personal blog. http://starcaptainsdaughter.blogspot.com

THE FINAL THREE!

I know you're all just dying to know the Enduring Romance Book of the Year 2007.

;)

I posted my Top Ten on December 4th. Scroll down to read about them. I loved all of them, but for different reasons. This is what makes choosing just one so hard.

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And so, without further a-do (drum roll please) here are the Final Three in no particular order:

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GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair. Linnea was competing with herself for Book of the Year because DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES was just as awesome as GAMES. However, in the end I went with GAMES simply because I'm a Space Opera kind of girl.

NEFERTITI by Michelle Moran. Oh, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I picked this Ancient Egyptian tale just because of my fascination with Yul Brynner.

Well...let's just say it didn't hurt.

MASTER OF VERONA by David Blixt. What can I say? Reading this novel is like sitting front row in a theater watching a Shakespeare play performed live the way it was meant to be.
I'll be re-reading these novels between now and December 31st when I will announce the Book of the Year.

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I won't be reviewing anymore books this year, unless something phenomenal comes in. I'll probably babble about something here on Thursdays though. Now, pop over to Amazon.com and finish your holiday shopping!

THE FINNISH LINE by Linda Gerber

THE FINNISH LINE is the second in the S.A.S.S. series by Linda Gerber. This series does not have the same characters every book, so you don't need to worry about reading out of order. What binds these books together is they're all about girls taking part in the Students Across the Seven Seas exchange program. The first one, NOW AND ZEN, was set in Japan. This one is set in Finland.

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Mo (short for Maureen) comes from a high-falootin skiing family in Utah. Her dad is a famous champion. Olympic medals are a home decorating motif. As the youngest of this large family, she has no identity of her own and she's had enough. By going on a student exchange program to Finland, she hopes to get away from her father's fame and what she feels is over-involvement in her life. He even coaches her coach!

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Mo is nuts about skiing too and she's decided the best way to earn her own name in the sport is by breaking down the barriers which still keep women from competing in ski-jumping with the same rights and accolades as the men. She settles into life in Finland as an exchange student living with a host family. Her host "sister," Kirsti, is cold as ice to her. She has a guide at school who's outgoing enough to be put on Ritilin if she was American. And then there are the boys. Tapio is like a Viking prince and his charm doesn't score points with Mo. But, "bad boy" Leevi does. And he's a fabulous ski-jumper too.

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Mo doesn't progress so well in her ski-jumping. The plot starts twisting like crazy when Leevi offers to help her do better if she'll arrange for him to get some publicity through her famous father. He thinks it will look good on his resume when he starts applying to American universities. At first, she's seriously annoyed. The fact that Leevi is so darkly cute only adds to her upset. But, then, she finds out she has something painfully in common with Leevi. Will she set aside her aversion to accepting help from a member of the male gender to attain skiing greatness?

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I could relate a lot to this story. Finland is up there around the Arctic Circle just like Alaska. I know what the biting cold is like and it gets dark around three in the afternoon in the winter here too. And, well, you can imagine how popular skiing is here! Linda really did her homework with the skiing. You can feel the powder hit your nose. Linda does a great job conveying Finnish culture too. I love stories which explore different cultures.

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Linda makes the teen experience real without falling into cliches and stereotypes. She does the parent/teen relationship well too. While Mo resents her father's over-involvement in her life, Kirsti relates how her father doesn't even notice she's there unless she wins something. "I'm not a child. I'm an investment," says Kirsti. There are all kinds of parents out there and just as many different kinds of teens who must relate to them.

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The S.A.S.S. series is a great one to give for the holidays. There's even a dogsled team on the cover of FINNISH LINE! http://lindagerber.com/

FINNISH LINE by Linda Gerber will...

...be reviewed by tonight.

Books of the Year 2007

On December 31st, I'll be choosing my Book of the Year 2007. I'm not sure if Lady Bronco will be or not. Got to talk to that girl, I guess. Some of my books are new releases and some are simply new to me. Here are my favorite books I read this year in no particular order:

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1)SWEET SENSATION by Gwyneth Bolton. Why It Should Win: This is a Romance novel, but it's not your standard issue. It's a Secret Baby Story turned on it's head. You know how I adore babies! The one in this book is actually a teen and she gets a Point-Of-View too. She's not consigned to the shadows where most young people lurk if they're in Romance novels at all. I can't understand why grown-ups don't like young people. Also, Gwyneth Bolton is the Queen Author of the Sensual Love Scene. You know how I think the Standard Issue Sex Scene is ridiculous, regardless of Heat Level. This novel is an excellent example of love scenes done right, I think.

2) MASTER OF VERONA by David Blixt. Why It Should Win: Mr. Blixt is a Shakespearean actor and it shows in this debut novel. If you're like me, you were taught to hate Shakespeare in high school by being forced to read his plays. In college, I learned Shakespeare's plays were not meant to be read. They were meant to be performed. When I witnessed a play performed, it was magic! Mr. Blixt captures that performing magic in the novel form and makes it a riveting read. He even includes a Commando Nanny (a baby's nurse who saves his life) and you know how that scores huge points with me!

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3) GAMES OF COMMAND by Linnea Sinclair. Why It Should Win: Brandon Kel-Paten is part human and part machine, and hopelessly and secretly in love with Captain Sebastian, a.k.a. Sass. Between him and Tank the Furzel, this story is a rollicking good space opera read. I own the GAMES' "No-No Bad Captain" sweatshirt.

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4) NEFERTITI by Michelle Moran. Why It Should Win: This novel has everything I love in a good story - a riveting plot, a variety of characters and not just a Hero and Heroine, a setting far away from my contemporary reality, a heroine I can relate to despite the time warp, conflicted bad guys, gorgeous men in Egyptian kilts (yowsa, Yul Brynner!), fabulous art and fashion, and lots of babies. And a believable Happily Ever After. In Real Life, HEA is a lot of work and always comes at great cost. Michelle captures that too. No Standard Issue anything in this debut novel!

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5) LOTTERY by Patricia Wood. Why It Should Win: Because Pat'll give me a free trip to Hawaii if I pick her - JUST KIDDING! Actually, I can fly there from Alaska pretty cheap. Really Why It Should Win: The Characters. There's a wide variety of them, they're real, and we've all walked in at least one of their shoes. Perry is one point up from being considered retarded and anyone who's been treated like crap will relate to him. The lead female character is plus-sized. The ensemble of friends close ranks to protect Perry when he wins the Lottery while everyone else tries to take the money from him. It's the kind of story that can change you on a spiritual level.

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6) STAR WARS DARK FORCE RISING by Timothy Zahn. Why It Should Win: Mommies are rare in Science Fiction. In this second volume of the Thrawn Trilogy, Princess Leia gives birth to twins and has a fabulous nanny, Winter. It's all done so believably well. Besides the gripping space opera plot, daddy Han Solo and his enduring romance with the Princess brings this story to life. Mr. Zahn does them better than the movies, in my opinion.

7) CONTACT by Susan Grant. Why It Should Win: Susan's an airline pilot and a mommy and so is the Heroine in this story. The passion and knowledge she brings to the story is akin to the magic David Blixt brings to MASTER OF VERONA.

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8) SAVE THE CAT! by Blake Snyder. This is our only non-fiction book on the list. Why It Should Win: As a writer, I've had a terrible time corralling all the images in my head into a comprehensible story. Structure has been a pox on my imaginary house. Jacqueline Lichtenberg suggested this book on screenwriting and it's made a huge difference! This is the only one on the list I haven't actually reviewed too.

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9) DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES by Linnea Sinclair. As you can see, Linnea is competing with herself for Book of the Year on this blog. Hey, Linnea, don't slap yourself silly trying to win! Why It Should Win: Sure, Jorie's an alien hunting zombies, but she also has a sweet vulnerability. She was a biracial Pat Benetar in my head, probably because of the cultural barriers she crosses falling in love with Greek American Theo. The pace of the story was gripping.

10) THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak. Why It Should Win: Death literally tells the tale of a young girl surviving World War II Europe by stealing books and losing herself in them. The way the story is told is as spellbinding as the tale itself.

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And that's it, unless I find another book which makes the cut before December 31st. I'll narrow the list down and re-read the short-list books between now and New Year's Eve. Maybe you should jot a few of these down on your holiday gift-giving list.

;)

Second Cyber-Launch Winner!

My poor Sweet Josephine was working so hard with her term papers and other Real Life stuff that she had no idea she was the second winner of the Cyber-Launch drawing. I was finally able to get a hold of her through MySpace and now she knows.
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Congratulations, Jospephine Damian! http://josephinedamian.blogspot.com/ She's an aspiring author of suspense fiction. Even though that's something I know absolutely nothing about, we bump into each other regularly in cyberspace. This only goes to prove we miss out on good friends and good stories when we lock our minds into only one kind of thing.

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This is Josephine's avatar. Pretty cool, huh?

Cyber-Launch Winners!

I'm so happy to announce the first winner of the Cyber-Launch Book Party drawing - Laurie! http://spacefreighters.blogspot.com/ This planetoid is her avatar.

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Laurie has been a Crunchy Critter of mine for almost two years. Has it really been that long? She critted all of STAR CAPTAINS' DAUGHTER and part of THE HOLY BENNU. I like to take credit for introducing her to Linnea's books, but now I can't remember if I really did. Did I, Laurie?

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By the way, Linnea's sending me the autographed copy of DOWN HOME ZOMBIE BLUES like I wanted. Ain't she sweet?