Smart Bitches Day

It's been a while. OKAY, it's been a long while. But here I am.

I will actually discuss a book I read over the weekend. But first, I was very upset by Lynn Viehl's allegory about "witch hunts" which was obviously directed at the Cassie Edwards matter at Smart Bitches website. I would have answered on PBW's blog, but she had closed the comments. First of all, Lynn, don't bring up the topic if you can't take the comments. Closing the comments is a wussy way out. Secondly, and most importantly, it isn't a witch hunt if there are witches involved. It's not a lynch mob if the person's obvious unethical behavior is being pointed out and proper action is requested.

Now for the book I read this weekend. It was called "Always a Thief" by Kay Hooper. I had never read Ms Hooper before, and I can't imagine I will again. I understand that she now writes romance suspense but started out writing romances for Harlequin. In fact, in her introduction (which I don't have handy) she mentions that this book and the previous one in the series had originally been romances (I believe her exact comment was "Yes, romance!" as if it were a bad word). And she had rewrote them as single title length books. The book would have sucked as a romance, and sucked as suspense.

First of all, all the characters had been introduced in the prior book "Once a Thief" and I never got a good grip of who everyone was. But oh the names. The hero and heroine were Quinn and Morgan (Morgan was a female, this wasn't slash). But the rest of the names. There was Max and Jared and (are you ready?) Wolfe and Storm. Wolfe and Storm were engaged. I hate to think what they'll name their kids. Storm, btw, was an Interpol agent/computer whiz who always had a small cat named Bear on her shoulder. I really want to know how you do that, no cat I've had would stay still that long.

All in all, I skimmed and remembered why I rarely read a Harlequin.