In a time when cloaks were useless and shirts had no fronts...

[meganbmoore]

So, earlier today I was at the UBS looking for Donna Tarte’s A Secret History I stumbled across Kim Lenox’s Night Falls Darkly.

The cover looks something like this:



No, I don’t know where the rest of his shirt is. Or the rest of his cloak. Perhaps he was born at a time both were meant to let the breeze in.

The description lives up to the cover:

A brand-new chilling saga....

A cunning immortal who’s been called upon to reclaim a marked soul...

Ever since an accident took away her memory, Miss Elena Whitney can’t recall the secrets of her own past. All she knows is that with her mysterious benefactor Archer, Lord Black, returning to London at the behest of Queen Victoria, she should seize the chance to get some answers.

A member of the immortal Shadow Guard, Archer has been summoned to London to eliminate the soul of an evil demon—Jack the Ripper. Archer feels not only bound to protect the women of the night, but also his beautiful young ward, Elena, whom he spared from death two years before. But with a wave of panic spreading across London, Archer fears that Elena is his weakness—a distraction he can’t afford, especially since she’s likely to become the Ripper’s next target...

So, we have: (1) angsty immortal and pure young mortal, (2) Victorian repression, (3) a secret society, (4) forbidden guardian/ward romance, (5) Jack the Ripper.

Clearly, all the bases were being carefully covered.

I didn’t grab it because, while I enjoy being able to get 10 books for $21, there were already enough books. However! Poll time!

[Poll #1355639]


The books I got:

Kelley Armstrong: Bitten
Renee Bernard: A Lady’s Pleasure, A Rogue’s Game, Madame’s Deception
Melissa de la Cruz: The Au Pairs
Charles de Lint: Forests of the Heart
Melissa Marr: Wicked Lovely
Ann Marston: Kingmaker’s Sword
Sharon Shinn: Summers at Castle Auburn


Meanwhile, I was pleased to note that I’m not the only person who goes to the Korean/American place across the street from the UBS, order food, and then go to the UBS. (Sadly, none of their entrees I’ve had are above average, but the dumplings are great.)

Comments

[retsuko.livejournal.com]

That book you did not buy looks *cheese-tastic*! I would love to read it on a plane flight or while sick! XD

I enjoyed Wicked Lovely, although I found the romantic interest to be a little too perfect. I'll be interested to hear your comments on it.

[boneprincess88.livejournal.com]

I took one look at that cover and cracked up. Man this is what happens everytime I pass by the romance section in the library, I just cannot look at the covers without bursting into giggles. they just look so silly! XD and the TITLES! I mean "Her ardor" or "Her desire" and "Midnight Passion" how can anyone take such titles seriously? XD
That book sounds like it's going to be hilariously bad, I do think you should read it and then give it a good mocking for the amusement of the rest of us. or just me. lol

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

In this case, the cover, which is not the author's fault, adds a lot to the cheese-tastic impression.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I started reading romance novels at a young enough age that the covers and titles just bounce off me.

I've actually been reading in public before and wondered why someone was looking at me strangely and then realized that it was because there were half-nekkid people clinging to each other on the cover with a title like "His Beloved Desire" or some such. It's amazing the things you can just not notice after a while.

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

I can't remember why I never finished that book. It was either because it was bland or because the first chapter/prologue (...I think it was a prologue) was silly.

I liked Bitten a lot. I'm not sure how it holds up these days but I read it when it first came out, before the UF boom (it was actually marketed as literary when it was published because no one knew what to do with it!!) and thought it was great. I think Armstrong's UF books with the werewolves are best. I'm kind of Meh about the witch ones.

Wicked Lovely is a decent read. It suffers from the usual main character has no real character & is never really in danger thing. But it has a very nice feel to it.

[chomiji]

You should read the first chapter and the ending while standing about in the bookstore!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

It sounds like something with a prologue. No doubt hinting at his angsty past.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

But I'm sure that will make me miss things like mindcontrol and creepy stalkery "love" and alpha male stupidity!

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you know? I think you're right. Not that this in any way is a surprise.

[desdenova.livejournal.com]

So, what's the downside?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Liu's Dirk & Steele books are in danger of making me forget how bad most paranormal romances are, and I could use the reminder?

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

You should get it and read it and tell us all about it so I can lol without having to read it.

I love cheesy vampires and all, but... WOW. I don't know how you can pack that many cliches into one synopsis.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

I've never understood the purpose of a cape when you can't keep your shirt on.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Plus the cover wardrobe!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I've been wondering at that for about 15 years.

Which would be around as long as I've been reading romance novels.

[prozacpark.livejournal.com]

If Jack the Ripper is going to kill her, can't she at least have the decency to be a whore and not a 'pure young mortal'? ;)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought after reading the description! Well "Wait, why is Jack the Ripper going after a proper young lady? Is this girl leading a double life?"

[narugami.livejournal.com]

Clearly it's a tragic novel about a man tall enough to eclipse the moon who's looking for a woman of his own size. The title is foreshadowing his epic trip and fall, which destroys London.

If I were the author I think that cover would make me cry :/

[prozacpark.livejournal.com]

If she is, I would read it! Romance novels' obsession with pure, young lady-like heroines totally makes me want to read romance novels about whores.

Um, you should get it and read so you can let me know about her super secret identity.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The sad thing is that there are elements of the cover that are actually quite good when you have the fullsized thing.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Have you read the Loretta Chase courtesan novel?

[prozacpark.livejournal.com]

I don't really read much in the romance genre. But would you recommend that book, knowing my fictional issues and kinks?

[sugarnoise.livejournal.com]

I too have almost read that. I got it from the library and read about 20 pages and just decided there was no way I could do it.... which is pretty amazing considering the crap I do finish. It was just a little too much for me, it was so serious that it was taking the fun out of the snark.

[rhap-chan.livejournal.com]

I've heard some great stuff about Kelley Armstrong but never tried her, so I'll be interested to see how you like "Bitten."

[narugami.livejournal.com]

Pretty much. It would also make more sense if the guy were further down on the cover where that rectangle is. As it is he's sort of floating in the air. XD; I also wouldn't italicize "Falls" but whatever.