The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Thursday, September 24, 2015

232 and 265

          I just finished Lisa Ricard Claro's Love Built to Last. To say that I avoid romance novels like the plague is not too much of an exaggeration... and with good reason.

       Romance plots are predictable. There's an overabundance of fluff and froth. Too much tingling and shivering and blood rushing to man-bits and woman-bits. (I know, I know. That's not the right lingo. So sue Sioux.) And there are lots of other types of books I'd rather read--memoir... historical fiction... chick lit... books about polka music--just about anything other than romance novels.

      However, good writing is good writing. It transcends the genre. And Love Built to Last is well-crafted and has a plot that kept me turning the pages. So begrudgingly, I admit it: I read a romance novel and I liked it (to really butcher and paraphrase the old Katie Perry song)




     
       There's a rescued dog. That earns a gazillion points in my book. There's a few twists and turns. There's some unique plot components (the stuff that goes on with the desk is waaaay clever). I planned on finishing it up last night but ran out of time. However, I made sure I did this afternoon. (I could have either written a crappy draft for the WWWP's to critique, or I could have finished Love Built to Last. I made the right choice, believe me.)

          I loved that Lisa made us wait until the very end before we found out where the title came from. I loved that there were times when Lisa teased us. There were times when the characters found out something (Jack's "message," for example), but she made us wait.


       There's even tears. Two pages made my eyes well up.

             Damn you, Lisa Ricard Claro... You made me read a romance novel, you made me enjoy it, and you made me cry. 

          

       

17 comments:

  1. Great post...agree with every word!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Claudia--It seems like Lisa has quite a fan-following.

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  2. Replies
    1. Linda--I guess we should form a club. The "Lisa Ricard Claro Sob-Sisters."

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  3. I wish I could write a review like you did Sioux. I agree with everything you said!

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    Replies
    1. Lynn--Maybe you could join the club Linda and I are forming?

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  4. Yay!!! I'm beaming! :) I love that you enjoyed this book!

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  5. You are the best fan ever, even though your cursed the author!

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    Replies
    1. Val--What curse are you talking about? Oh, I spelled it wrong. I meant that Lisa should dam up the flow of her words. She's way too prolific. What's wrong with you? Can't you tell a typo when you see one? Or are you the type that goes straight to the gutter with your thinking?

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  6. Replies
    1. Cathy--Apparently (like Val) you too prance too close to the gutter...

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  7. Lisa did a terrific job with her book. Sioux, will this turn you into a romance genre reader? As they say, variety is the spice of life!

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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    Replies
    1. Pat--Definitely not. However, it has turned me into a Lisa Ricard Claro reader. It IS a good idea to read outside of one's box... but there's already too many books that are in my box and are on my to-be-read list. (I'm afraid I won't live long enough to read all the books I want to read.)

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  8. Hi Sioux,
    I agree. Lisa's book was a gem. Those Georgia gals know how to tell a good story.

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    Replies
    1. Donna--That's for sure. I wonder what is in that Georgia water?

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  9. I just happen to have a copy right here. Love-love-love it!

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