If at First You Don't Succeed, Avoid Sky Diving

The Woman Left Behind, Linda Howard's latest release, is out now, and the promo got me interested enough to pre-order. For anyone like me who has had actual military training, the story may make you chuckle a bit. But the effort by the author to portray an ordinary-citizen heroine undergoing the intense convert operative team training was certainly enthusiastic.

If you don't want to read any spoilers, stop here. Do not pass Go. Do not collect -- you get the picture.

In the novel, Jina Modell already works in a classified communications position for the government. Without warning she's ordered to take on a new position as a drone operator for a covert paramilitary team. Or a lookout. Or a scout. Oddity#1: I was never quite clear on what Jina's team job is. The order she's given is basically a join or lose your job situation, which I'm pretty sure is illegal, but this is fiction so okay. She then undergoes the absolutely brutal physical training required to get her on the team, which takes about a third of the book. I felt like this, and gradually bonding with her all-male team, was the main story.

Oddity #2: Jina is brought on to be some kind of computer geek for the team, so why all the physical training? When she's finally shown doing her job, she sits in front of a laptop and talks into a mic. Oddly enough, I do that all day, and yet never once had to run ten miles as prep.

Onto the romance, oddity #3: The reciprocated attraction Jina feels to Ace, the team's leader, should come into play, yes? No. Aside from one passionate kiss and lots of lust and self-loathing on both sides, not much happens there until page 321. Oddity #3a: The story is only 351 pages long. The romance commences with a marathon 26 pages of romance and sex -- which are fine, btw -- but after that we get the requistite HEA like immediately. At most the romance is about 20% of the story, so not exactly substantial.

Oddity #4: In the background there are a handful of small, vague scenes in which a traitorous yet heartbroken antagonist plots to stick it to the guy in charge of this paramilitary program via ambushing and killing Jina's team. These scenes were very disjointed and confusing, as I was never quite clear on what's going on there. I tried to fill in the blanks myself, and expected someone on Jina's team to be part of this blurry conspiracy, but that didn't happen, either. You could delete the antagonist entirely and it really wouldn't hurt the book.

The training Jina receives is pure fantasy, but it does help to quickly gain the reader's sympathy. Oddity #5: There was a bit too much focus on the boots Jina wears throughout the story. It reminded me of another author's book, when all the new-diver protagonist seemed to do was spit in her mask to keep it from fogging up. One mention of an insider detail like that is great. Two mentions, fine. Three mentions, tedious. Four or more become seriously annoying. Training-wise, the novel would have benefited from some input from a female soldier who has gone through similar conditioning. I was still okay with it, except for the sky diving chapter (oddity #6), which I thought was over the top and ridiculous. I liked Jina, but I'd have absolutely kicked her off the team after the first jump, no hesitation.

Oddity #7, which was the biggest and most puzzling: the book's title in relation to what happens in the story. For about the length of a single chapter it's applicable; the actual woman being left behind event stretches to maybe twenty pages. It was such a blip that I went back and read it again, just to be sure I hadn't inadvertently skipped a big chunk of story. I was expecting three, maybe four chapters of Jina having to survive by her wits behind enemy lines. Didn't happen. Aside from running and following a map, none of her strengths and intelligence as a protagonist come into play. So if you're looking for that, nope. "The Woman Who Trains Her Ass Off" or "The Woman Who Should Never, Ever Sky Dive" or even "The Right Boots Are Your Best Friends" would have been more title-appropriate.

Final verdict: Odd book. Very odd. So odd I decided to write it up on the blog, and you know how lazy I am when it comes to that. If you're a rabid Linda Howard fan, you probably can't be disappointed, so by all means invest. Maybe you'll get it by default. The rest of you might want to wait for the paperback, or just skip it altogether -- unless you like lots of oddities.

First Read of 2013

It's the tenth day of 2013 and I haven't yet read a book this year. Shameful, I know, but I had that trip to the mountains as well as a personal agenda. I like to start off my reading year with a book I really want to read by an author I can depend on to deliver. It sets a tone for the rest of the calendar, plus it's fun deciding which title to pick.

After much pondering of title lists I'm going with Linda Howard's latest hardcover release, Shadow Woman, as my first read of 2013. No matter what she writes Linda is always a terrific storyteller, plus this one has a rather mysterious premise, which fits right in with my new theme for the year:

Lizette Henry wakes up one morning and makes a terrifying discovery: She doesn’t recognize the face she sees in the mirror. She remembers what she looks like, but her reflection is someone else’s. To add to the shock, two years seem to have disappeared from her life. Someone has gone to great and inexplicable lengths to keep those missing years hidden forever. But the past always finds a way to return.

I hate to read alone, so I picked up two extra copies while I was at the bookstore. If you'd like a chance to own one of them, in comments to this post name the title of the first book you've read or would like to read in 2013 (or if you can't remember or think of any, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, January 11, 2013. I'll choose two names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Shadow Woman by Linda Howard. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Wonderful Winter Reads

One of the gifts I give myself every holiday season is time to read. I've been stockpiling books in anticipation, and the new crop of winter releases has been delivering one dazzler after another to my TBR.

We finally have the fourth Lords of Deliverance novel, Rogue Rider, by Larissa Ione, and it was worth the wait. As I've been following this series I've been especially impatient to read this one, which features the story of Reseph, the Horseman formerly known as Pestilence. Yes, Res is back, although he has no idea what his evil side has been doing for the last three books. He wakes up naked in a snowbank with zero memory, and is rescued by Jillian, who is living in a remote mountain cabin while she recovers from a demon attack. I'm not saying another word about the story because I refuse to spoil it for others, but man, I love this universe and Larissa's storytelling. I really love how she redeemed this protagonist, too. And if this is going to be the last book in the series, which unless there's a fifth horseman I think it is, it's a perfect wrap-up.

Shawntelle Madison wowed me earlier this year with Coveted, her debut novel about a werewolf struggling with OCD. Now that she's released Kept, book two, she's pretty much blown me away. This novel is builds beautifully from Natalya going on a search and rescue mission for her Dad to a series of quests and obstacles and surprises that culminate into a showdown to end all showdowns. You know how we say we can't put a book down -- I was practically glued to this one. I'm so impressed with this series I'm turning into a valley girl; every time I mention it to my friends I end every other sentence with totally awesome, dude.

Linda Howard and Linda Jones have teamed up again to pen Running Wild, the first book in the Men of Battle Ridge series (in my head I keep changing that to Battle Creek. But it's not set in Michigan, the story takes place in Wyoming.) If you love romantic suspense featuring cowboys this is probably your novel of the year. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and have been handing out gift copies to every romance reader I know around town. I think this team had better write faster to keep all their fans happy.

After I skipped reading the last book in Karen Moning's Fever series -- I just didn't want to go there -- I felt guilty. I like the first couple of books and I really prefer to finish a series. As a compromise I resolved to invest in the first book of whatever came next, which is Iced. Karen continues to smash the rules to smithereens by featuring Dani O'Malley, a fourteen-year-old protagonist, but this is not YA. Oh, no, not at all. It's fun, exciting, and reminds me a lot of what I liked so much about the earlier Fever books. I totally fell for Dancer, btw; hook/line/sinker. The story also filled me in enough on what I missed with the last Fever novel that I don't have to worry about it anymore. So I'm back in, and look forward to the next installment of Dancer's supremely amazing geeky coolness Dani's adventures.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name an author or title you're reading this winter by midnight EST on Monday, December 10th, 2012. I'll draw three names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners unsigned paperback copies of Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione, Kept by Shawntelle Madison, Running Wild by Linda Howard and Linda Jones, a hardcover copy of Iced by Karen Marie Moning, and a surprise. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Soul Medicine Week: Linda Howard

While I was putting together my posts for this week, I realized something: I discovered many of the writers in my soul medicine chest by picking up books at random while browsing through book stores, flea markets and even some rummage sales. I think I acquired that habit from when I was a kid and had to borrow books from the public library; I didn't know what to read so I'd take five or six books from one shelf. Occasionally I'd end up with some real clunkers, but most of the time the universe stepped in and guided my hand to someone I needed to read.

Like this one time about fifteen years ago, when I was on my way home from a doctor's appointment. I stopped at a Jewish temple that was having a big garage sale in their parking lot. There were tables upon tables of books, and at that particular moment I needed something to read in the worst way. While sorting through the stacks, I found this old Silhouette romance with rather awful cover art. Never heard of the author, either, but I liked the title: Loving Evangeline. Plus it only cost a quarter.

A few authors sometimes complain about not profiting from used book sales, but I don't. I know better. Because two days after I bought that old book for a quarter, I went out to all three new book stores in town and bought every single title by Linda Howard that I could find on the shelves. And have kept buying them ever since.

Linda Howard brings so much to the reader it's hard to choose what to highlight. There's the powerful writing, the heroic protagonists, the emotional impact of her stories, the shock and awe moments -- I've never been able to put aside one of her books once I start reading it. All of these things are just a few of the reasons why she gets much better cover art these days.

But for me I think what her novels do best is remind me why we shouldn't give up. That no matter how bad things are, we can survive them and get past them and move on with our lives and find a better place. That's what her characters do; there are never any quitters in her stories. If you're open to it, that kind of courage is very contagious.

In the great Pandora's box of romantic fiction, Linda Howard's work is always about hope.

Today I have to give away three brand new copies of Linda's latest hardcover release. If you'd like a chance to win one of them, in comments to this post name a writer or a book that helped you get through a particularly tough time by midnight EST on Friday, September 23, 2011. I will draw three names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Prey by Linda Howard, along with a surprise. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Winners

I really liked seeing all the great titles you guys are waiting on listed for the No Stampede Required giveaway; you reminded me of a few I need to add to my shopping list.

It seems there is always a stack of books I want right now. This summer I'm especially impatient for Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs, Pete Dexter's Spooner, and The Fire King by Marjorie M. Liu. Happily I just bumped into Lori Devoti's new venture, Amazon Ink, this week at the bookstore, and that looks really good. Then I have to wait awhile for With Extreme Pleasure by Alison Kent (November) and Larissa Ione's next Demonica novel, Ecstacy Unveiled (and don't make me e-mail and shake you down for a release date, Larissa, because I will.)

We kickstarted the magic hat tonight, and the winners of the giveaway are:

whateverfor, aka Elisa Jankowski, who is waiting for Gena Showalter to finish writing The Darkest Lie (now that's serious anticipation)

Maithe, who doesn't have to wait for Linda Howard's Burn any longer, bwahahaha

Karen W., neither do you, although you will have to keep lusting for Rachel Vincent's My Soul to Take (btw, I've heard that there's a prequel for that up somewhere, maybe on the publisher's web site?)

Crystal Posey, who is waiting on Blood Games by Iris Johansen (me too, I collect all of Iris's novels.)

Winners, when you have a chance please send your full name and ship-to info to LynnViehl@aol.com, and I will get these very hot copies of Burn out to you. My thanks to everyone for joining in.

No Stampede Required

As RWA's National Conference looms on the horizon, I've been having recurring nightmares about fondly remembering some of the remarkable behavior I witnessed during the three I attended. You never realize just how charming and endearing your own gender can be until you assemble two thousand of them under the same hotel roof with only three working elevators.

Aside from the grabfests in the goodie room, the con committee deadbolting the press room, and the impromptu booze-soaked cirque du soleil every night in and around the hotel bar, I think the stampede to get to the tables at the guest speaker luncheon was always the defining moment of the conference. Seriously, you have not lived until you've watched hundreds of grown women run and dodge and tussle with each other in an insane version of musical chairs as they try to grab the most desirable gratis hardcovers and paperbacks set out on the seats.

Being a handicapped person caught in that, well . . . you know that running of the bulls thing they do in Spain? This is scarier.

Still, I wanted to do a little personal tribute to RWA and everything I remember about going to their enormous con, so when I saw this today at the book store I thought "Ah, perfect."



For a chance to win a copy of what I predict will be the most desired and fought-over hardcover at RWA National (no stampede required) in comments to this post name the title of a book to be published in the near future that you are anticipating most (or if you're not waiting on anything to hit the shelves yet, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST tonight, Wednesday, July 8, 2009. I will draw four names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Burn by Linda Howard. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

Risks Will Be Taken

Nothing warms my heart quite like a novel with protagonists who are unlikely, controversial, or irredeemable. The most fun I've had as a writer has been working with characters like Akela from Red Branch and Lucan from Dark Need, because they not only break all the novelist rules, they rewrite them. They also push me to take risks with my work, and I'm a firm believer in nothing ventured etc.

Linda Howard should borrow Usher's new tag line, Risks Will Be Taken to promote her latest novel, Death Angel. The protagonists are an assassin and a drug lord's mistress. I'm not kidding. The novel opens with a bang (literally.) By the time I got through the first chapter I thought I was perhaps having a meds reaction and hallucinating this plot, as it was so beyond anything I've read. From there Linda takes the reader on a dark, twisty, wholly unpredictable journey all the way to love and death and back again. And I'm not saying another word about it, because to do so would ruin the story.

Death Angel will no doubt ruffle a lot of feathers because it features characters who are unlikely, controversial, and in some ways completely irredeemable. It challenges the reader to set aside all the same old acceptable safe stuff along with their preconceived notions about heroism, and step across traditional boundaries to see what's on the other side. I think anyone willing to go there will be as surprised by what they find as I was.

But as always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, name a novel that challenged you or your beliefs in some fashion (or if your belief systems are inviolate, just throw your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Thursday, July 3, 2008. I'll draw five names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned hardcover copy of Death Angel by Linda Howard. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

RW: Past and Future

It was insanely hard to judge the Name This Ship contest, as you all came up with some fabulous names for Cherijo and Reever's scout. To avoid any subconscious bias, I put all the entries on a spread sheet, shuffled them around and then went through a process of elimination based on the name only.

It came down to fifteen semi-finalists, and me seriously wishing I could write a little scout fleet into the book so I could use all of them (this is why I hate contests. I want everyone to win.) There could be only one, though, so after a few more days of dithering, I found I kept coming back to one name over and over. It really resonated with me as a fitting and beautiful name for the ship. So the winning name is:

MoonFire submitted by Joely Sue Burkhart

Congratulations, Joely (e-mail me at LynnViehl@aol.com when you get a chance), and thanks to everyone who joined in.

This week I have another giveaway for the readers, this time for a new novel by one of my favorite writers. Years ago I picked up one of this author's category romances at random during a church rummage sale. I'd never read any of her work before then, but after I finished the novel I went out immediately, hunted down and bought everything she'd written to date.

Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard is the first book in a paranormal trilogy being written by Linda Howard, Linda Winstead Jones and Beverly Barton. Finding this book on the shelves (I had not heard that Linda was writing a paranormal) delighted me, as it took me back to some of my happiest book-hunting days. When you discover a talented, unique author, they always grab your imagination from page one, and you just can't get enough of their work. For me that's Linda Howard.

If you'd like a chance to read Linda's latest novel along with me for free, in comments to this post name an author who sets your imagination on fire by midnight EST on Tuesday, May 1, 2007. I'll draw ten names at random from everyone who participates, and send the winners an unsigned copy of Raintree: Inferno by Linda Howard. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something at PBW in the past.