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The Malaysian Abroad article about me was supposedly going to be up today. I couldn't find it.
Romance Reviews Today was going to post a review of VIRTUALLY HIS yesterday. The reviewer brought up something interesting that I never considered. She said Virtually His wasn't a romance, or rather, there was no romance in the story. But the review isn't up at their site yet, so I can't bring that up for discussion.
The review itself was very well written and recommended Virtually His. I liked it that the reviewer relayed what worked and didn't work for her, so readers can see the different elements of the story. I knew there would be lots of hate generated from the techy stuff, but never ever did it cross my mind that I wasn't writing a romance. It's not romantic, yeah. Well, it's book one and the start of a very strange relationship, so there can't be too much "I want you, I love you, you are mine" declarations.
Oh well. More tomorrow if the article is up by then. I'd love to hear your thoughts whether you consider VHIS a romance. Not whether it's romantic, which is a different creature entirely. Also, were the clues to the trainer that vague to the reader not familiar with the COS commandos? I'm biased, of course; I thought with all the eye colors I kept throwing out, and the revelation of the monitor's eyes at the end, it's pretty obvious that the trainer/monitor was no other than Jed McNeil himself.
The review ends with a question, wondering how the author (me) was going to handle the disclosure of Jed as the trainer.
Ah. Well. I can disclose that no problem. Courtesy from Lauren Dane, there will be lots of this:
(AND AIMEE, HE IS MINE MINE MINE, so you can't have him!!!! Not after this short video! Heh.)
Yup. And nope, it's not going to be romantic sex either. Solly. Jed doesn't do romantic sex. ;-P And if you think the sex between Stefan (Jed) and Sia-Sia was a bit much in The Protector, what with the use of the drug and chains, I'm afraid to think what you're going to think about Jed and Helen's sexual scenes. Because in Book Two, there's no reason to hold back. Right? Ahem. RIGHT?
Monday, May 21, 2007
Not A Romance or Not Romantic?
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8 comments:
There is absolutely NO reason to hold back in Virtually Hers, LOL. While the tech stuff is not really my thing I totally consider this a romance. I guess because i knew it was a 3 book series and the relationship is building I'm ok with where the relationship was when it ended. Of course I wanted more but I always want more, LOL.
I didn't think the sex between Stephan and Sia Sia was too much. And ABSOLUTELY NOT, DON'T HOLD BACK. Don't even think about holding back. Jed is, well, Jed. We expect him to be nasty, but not a tasteless nasty, but a naughty nasty.
Def don't hold back, Jed is hot and it is fantasy not reality, its supposed to be a lil over the top. Now, on to the other topic. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED the book and can't wait to read two and three... but I kind of have to agree it wasn't really a romance. They didn't seem to be falling in love (yet at least) as much as they were engaged in a control contest and under severe lust (not that there's anything worng with that). It was more James Bond does romance rather than Jane Austen. The story fit right up my alley because I tend not to not like most romances, just the ones with a lot of action (kind of how I like my movies). So IMO you made a great modern book (perhaps it is a modern romance with such a strong female character?). It is a trillogy so although book one is not so much a romance, perhaps the series is a romance, but even if it isn't a standard "romance" there is nothing wrong with that.
I loved the tech stuff, call me uber geek. But this was one reason why it worked for me, made it more real. I just KNEW it was Jed. He is such a bad, bad man... and I love it!!! Please don't hold back on my account!
I can see where RT would not categorize V-His as a romance if the romance between Jed and Hell doesn't start simmering till towards the end of the book and doesn't boil over till Book 2. I had been worrying a little about the misperception readers may have if V-His is their first Gennita Low book but I still think you did it the right way even though I'm only going by what you've been telling us and what I know about Jed/Stefan from your previous books. It just wouldn't BE Jed if you rushed it through but I'm just one customer so I understand your concern.
Perhaps you could update your website and have it dedicated exclusively to your new series? Then we can put the word out for people to go check out the Cos Commandos for themselves and read all about the new series at their very own Home page. It would have helped me a lot if I had such a website to go to, which gave me the overview of the trilogy as well as the synopsis for each installment (whatever you've got at that point, at least) not to mention profiles on each commando. As it is, I know what I do only because of your Yahoo Group. The info on these guys are scattered here and there and hard to locate. I got my feel for the Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood and Feehan's GhostWalkers from the well-organized info on the author's sites though Adair's T-Flac site so fits the mood and theme of her books.
Anyway, that aside, I do hope readers won't be scared off by the 'not a romance' remark and will take the plunge like I did with Into Danger and Facing Fear despite the less than promising reviews on AAR. I dread to think what my life would be today without my Jed/Stefan journey!
Ok, just gotta watch that Butler vid one more time...
One of the reasons I love your books is because they're not "typical" romances. There's always something different about them, unique characters, hot sex, and interesting stories. Virtually His is no different, except the entire romance isn't contained within one book. But not a romance? They've got to be kidding. One of my favorite things in the story is reading how Jed was worrying about Hell, when he'd never worry about any other agents he'd send out on assignment cracked me up. It'll be fun watching this tough, mighty guy fall! Please don't tone anything down. And please don't hold anything back!
I think I'm going to watch that video once more myself!!
Leilani
Romantic sex wouldn't fit with a character like Jed. Especially considering what we've seen of him in previous books.
I wouldn't consider Virtually His romantic. I would consider it a Romantic Suspense, though. How can you have romantic between these two characters? It just wouldn't work. That's as a reader. I'm sure you would have had an impossible time trying to do that as a writer.
Leiha,
One of my regrets is not suggesting to my publisher to put BOOK ONE of VIRTUAL series or something like that on the cover of VHIS. Maybe on VHERs, I don't know. I think a romance can be done slowly in a series. I could have ended the first book differently, of course, instead of risking the reader's wrath ;-).
Tressa,
I've found out the hard way ;-) that one simply can't hold back when you write about Jed and sex. He's very dedicated to the task of pleasure, that boy.
Kim,
Yes, I agree VHis is a traditional romance, but it does have many of the things that are found in romance, that is, the concentration of the relationship of the couple itself. Admittedly, in a series, it's very slow-moving!
Sarah,
LOL. No, no holding back about Jed and Hell in Book Two, I promise ;-). I really enjoyed writing this book because it was different and DIFFICULT. Boy, it was difficult and I don't blame the non-geek readers for not liking the techy stuff. But I was totally into the idea of virtual reality and sex. Oh yeah.
Elaine,
Good idea about explanation on the site. I'll take down the FAQ page and redo that. Thanks!
I've watched the Butler video so many times, my eyes hurt. LOL.
Also, readers are always asking for something different, so I hope that they will take a chance with the Virtually series and come along for a nice ride with Jed and Hell. The romance is there, that's a promise.
Leilani,
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed both the techy and the romance aspects of the story. I gave little hints that something is going on in Jed's mind through the story, from his obsession to his worrying to even the ending, when he didn't really chide Helen for not completing the mission. If it were anyone else, he would have brought that up, you know?
Casee,
I see it this way: the two characters have MUCH to learn about themselves and each other. This is a journey for them and at the end of the road, when they look back, they might see that they met in a romantic way. LOL. Or maybe not. But one thing is for sure, they might not be traditionally romantic as a couple, but they will have a chance to do romantic things together in future books.
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