Monday, May 4, 2009

Take Me Away!!



Soemtimes you just want to be taken away from all the STUFF! This weekend was nice, but it was busy. It's always rush, rush, rush. I have Nalini Singh's Psy-changeling series sitting on my coffee table just waiting for me to read them, but all I've gotten done is housework, running errands, the usual busy work.




This week doesn't look much better either. Today after I pick up the kids I'll have guitar lessons to take my daughter to. Tomorrow my other daughter has cheer practice. Wednesdays I usually reserve to get some extra writing time in. And sometime this week I need to go shopping for Mother's Day. Truthfully, all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a cup of coffee and read for about a day. Wouldn't that be heaven??

Well, while I whine about how I have zero time to read, has anyone gotten the new J. R. Ward book? Is that a sexy cover or what? I've ordered it (with luck I'll find time to actually read it! lol)and it's been shipped. I'm curious what everyone thinks of it being released in hardback. Does it bug you when a publisher starts releasing in hardback mid-series?

36 comments:

Kelley Nyrae said...

A friend of mine read Lover Avenged and loved it. She said Rehv stole her heart. She's mailing it to me so I'll be reading it this week some time! Not so happy about the hardback though.....

Regina Carlysle said...

I've been dying for some feedback on this one too. Love Rhev! The last two books were so disappointing though. I'm a little nervous about investing 'hardback' money in it.

Queen of the Universe said...

No! I haven't gotten to read it yet, but I really Really REALLY! want to! Argh! I need more time!

Anne Rainey said...

Kelley--I'm so glad to hear good things about it! I actually didn't read the last Ward book because I wasn't crazy about what everyone was saying how little romance was actually in it.

Regina--yeah, hardback IS rough, esp. in this economy. Ouch!

Leah Braemel said...

I read it - it's better than Phury's story (though that wouldn't be hard to do). It's not one of her best though - I think she's got too many storylines going and Rehv's story gets shoved to the background. I also didn't really notice a lot of heat between him and his heroine.

I bought it as an ebook. I refuse to buy it as a hardcover on principal - it just seems like a moneygrab by the publisher. Plus it won't fit in with the others on my book shelf. I really want to get Patricia Brigg's latest too, but like JR's book, they've switched mid-stream to a hardcover. It REALLY bugs me that they've done that. I'm waiting for the paperback for both.

I never buy hardcover as a rule - just too darned expensive, and if I don't like the book, my used book store refuses to take hardcovers. Plus with JR's trackrecord - did anyone like Phury's story?- I didn't to chance spending all that money if this book sucked too.

Anne Rainey said...

Queen--Ack! Me too! Don't you wish you could just take a week and go to some tropical island? Books, fruity drinks, and nothing but time! Heaven!

Anne Rainey said...

Leah--Too many storylines, damn, I was afriad of that. That's the reason I didn't buy Phury. I want a LOVE story. Not fifty stories shoved into one book. Ugh!

MaggieJ said...

I loved the book,but it did have alot of story lines in it.I also hate it when they start out in paper back and switch to hard cover.I often wonder why they do that.

Sophia Danu said...

I hear you about Mondays Anne - it was all I could do to get out of bed this morning...lol. I also don't like it when they switch to hard cover. Well, let me re-phrase - my checking account doesn't like it. Otherwise, I am happy for her success, but it does mean that I'll wait a bit longer before getting it. :(

Happy Monday! :)

Anne Rainey said...

Maggie--I would think it has to do withs sales numbers. *shrugs* It's frustrating for the readers for sure!

Anne Rainey said...

Sophia--I don't know why, but this particular Monday is esp. hard. I have zero energy today. Hate that!

J Hali Steele said...

I do hate when they go hardcover midway - ruins my bookshelf - I won't buy until in paperback. I'm a little worried after the way she treated Phury if I want to read about Rehv. I'll wait for more reviews.

Anne Rainey said...

J--I wish the series would get back to the way it was in the first three books! Those were the best, imo!

Regina Carlysle said...

Can anyone tell me if she is still mangling the stuff with John Matthew. I soooo don't want him with that dominatrix thang.

After Viscous and Phury, I'm a little concerned about this book. Think I'm gonna wait for reviews but dang it, I read some reviews on Phury's book and they were just glowing. Do you think some reviewers are just gonna rave about every book certain authors write?

Jake - but not the one said...

I don't know, nuthin' from Ward, but Monday is going okay so far, and the weekend was fun. I spent it as a volunteer remodeling a senior's home. I have paintitis now. ow, ow , OW!

Now, if I could just get someone to do the grocery shopping!

Also - stories with LOTS of storylines are just hard to read. Hard as in not enjoyable, however good the storyteller might be.

Jake

Anne Rainey said...

Jake--I totally agree! I like a secondary thing, it's lie a two for one deal, but too many and you end up taking away from the main characters.

Anonymous said...

I couldn't finish the last one of Ward's. Like many of you said I want a romance. And forget about buying hardbacks! I would rather just wait for it to come in mass market. I am not wasting what money I have for books on a hardcover.

Anne Rainey said...

Chris R--Exactly. That's why those first three were so popular. She did a great job weaving romance with the complex world of the BDB. But when so many other storylines take front stage it ends up reading a little like the author had hard time sitting still or something.

Anonymous said...

I bought it in Kindle format so it was a tad bit cheaper. LOVED it! The cover is sexy but did you guys hear she got some fallout cuz another author had an identical cover for the most part previously? Hehe. Ward's is sexier in my opinion. THe story rocked. There's a lot of side story with the other brothers and their shellans as well which I loved and tons of surprises. I'm doing a re-read of all the BDB books now. Oh and did I mention Lassiter is back? Whewee that boy is fine!

Anonymous said...

This is for Regina-There is a heavy storyline with JM and Xhex in the book. I ended up really liking it though. I know there's a lot of storylines going on, but for me I'm the opposite of everyone. I like hearing about all the brothers (except for Phury-never liked him and still not a fan). But there is some freaky stuff happening with Rhev as well so be forewarned. Not for the light of heart but I don't wanna give away spoilers about it.

Anne Rainey said...

Amanda--Ouch, no, I didn't see that about the cover. Though in Ward's defense that's the cover art department that screwed up, not her. I feel for Ward because that will reflect on her.

And I do like when we get to see previous characters. I love getting an update on how they're all doing!

Anonymous said...

Anne-She's the one getting the fallout unfortunately. But also in her defense, stock photos are just that and when you use them, there's always a chance of someone else using one as well. And how many people are going to look through EVERY book every published to make sure it's not the same cover. I've seen both and I think there are a few tiny differences when side by side.

Okay well I might be wrong now. This was talked about at her group a few weeks ago. But I just talked to someone from her site that said she ended up getting it changed when it was brought to her attention by members of her group or something.

We're searching the BDB boards now to try to get a link to the book cover it supposedly copied. There's so much stuff there though it might take a bit. If I find it, I'll send it to you Anne then you can compare. still out of town til tomorrow but will check back on when I can and see if my friend found it.

Anonymous said...

Found it. Now in JR's the guy is standing up and you can see his face, on this one he's bent down but same tatto, body, etc is the beef reader's were complaing about:

http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Horse-Lord-Rosemary-Sutcliff/dp/1932425624/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241463177&sr=8-1

Anne Rainey said...

Wow, that really is similar. Dang!

Isn't it interesting though how they can make the guy look so different? On Ward's cover he looks older, harder, rougher, in young adult book he looks leaner and youngish...

Anonymous said...

Yep I think so too. I mean there are differences but the readers or posters were making a huge issue out of it and blaming her for copyright infringement and all that which to me is riduclous if you're using stock photos ya know? I've seen lots of ebook covers that are the same. A lot of publishers just run through the same 5 at a time, especially when they first open. I just thought it was comical when all these people got so high and mighty about it and never took into account that some covers turn out this way for that very reason.So TM the dang thing lol.

Amy Ruttan said...

I have it! :D

I'm loving it, it takes a long time to read for me only because of the water retention in my hand I can't hold the hardback for very long. LOL!

N.J.Walters said...

I loved the new JR Ward. I bought it in ebook form because I didn't want to wait and didn't want to shell out for the hardcover. Hardcover books are not in my budget.

I hate when a publisher does this in the middle of a series. I have the rest of the series in paperback and will end up buying the book again in print when it is released.

Cynthya said...

I love this series but haven't read Lover Avenged yet because I can't afford hardcovers. I'll wait until it comes out in paperback unless I can get someone to buy it for me for my birthday in June.

And, yes, curling up on the couch and reading for a whole day does sound like heaven!

Anne Rainey said...

Amy--I used to have major water retention during my pregnancy. My feet and hands looked black and blue by the end of the day. Ugh!

Anne Rainey said...

N.J.--Thanks for commenting! I'm so glad to see some positive feedback because I DID buy the hardback! LOL

Anne Rainey said...

Cynthya--I was surprised to see Amazon selling it at $14. I bit the bullet and bought it. Reading is my ONE vice so what the hey! :)

Debra Moore said...

I bought mine for the Kindle right when it came out...about 4 in the morning. LOVED IT!!!!

I did see the hardcover version the other day--nice. But there's nothing like my Kindle. :-)

About the book--yes, there is a lot going on plotwise and peoplewise. I like it that way though, although the scene switches are always kinda tough for me to orient to at first. Still, all in all, megalove.

And I wasn't a Rhev fan until this book...he is so wounded and wonderful. (But Z will always be my fav!)

Anne Rainey said...

Debra! You're killing me here! LOL I want my copy NOW! :)

Anonymous said...

I hate it when publishers make a change in how they are distributing a series, especially if it starts as an e-book but then they switch to only print. Grrrr!

I read Lover Avenged. Had it pre-ordered. For me the book started kind of slow and I really think there was too much going on for one book and should have been two. That said, I loved it. Can't wait for the next book!

Fiona Jayde said...

This is gonna sound really silly - but the sheer size intimidated me:)

Its a HUGE book. The cover is gorgeous, and Rhev is staring out at you with those smoldering eyes and baddass tattoos, but he's a bicep workout! (Wait, did that sound dirty?)

I'm ordering it for my ebook reader :) And as far as all the storylines, I'm hoping for more Xhex and John Matthew cause I really get a kick out of those two:)

:) Fi

Anne Rainey said...

Fiona--LOL! I didn't even look at the page count. Big, huh? Dang, I don't have time for big books these days. Guess I'll have to make time though, eh?