No Man's Mistress

[wickedjaw]

The title refers to the book I have most recently thrown across the room.

As a reader of romance novels, I have learned to suspend disbelief. In a genre rife with secret babies, amnesia, violet-colored eyes, and names like Stonehenge Gravel, an ability to to suspend disbelief is key.

It's also good to be able to overlook certain anachronisms. My

Comments

[amelia_eve]

There may have been a Slow Clap involved, I don't know.

I think the clap is a pretty sure bet somewhere along the line.

Historical trash has to walk a pretty fine line when it comes to anachronism. I want them to be relatable, but not totally out of character for the times, even if they are rebellious. Oddly, this can be even more problematic with things set in the recent past, especially for dialogue. I was really thrown in Super 8 when somebody called another character a "douche." I hardly heard that term at all until about five years ago, and even then it definitely started out as "douchebag." The movie successfully managed a lot of other period teen slang, so it was particularly jarring to hear that one word. Feh.

[anonymous]

If I have this correct (info comes from a combination of British history buffery, historical romances, and looking at Burke's Peerage the other day to see which people were called "honorable"), a legitimate daughter of an earl would have been "Lady Viola," not "Lady Thornhill." And the only way your heroine would have had the title is if she'd been awarded the rank, like William IV's children with Mrs. Jordan the actress. Is that scene in there?

Also, does your definition of "cracked out" include "kind of creepy a lot of the time"? Because if so, the answer to your question is "yes." --Corinne @TS

[wickedjaw]

Upon looking through the book again, it looks like I did mess up the reference -- she's called Lady Viola Thornhill on the back, but Miss Thornhill in the book. In my defense, the whole scene with Ferdinand beating up her pimp with all her former clients watching just broke my brain.

I do remember a lovely scene in Forever, Amber when Amber gets the title of a duchess for herself when she is the king's mistress, pretty much so she can make her arch-rival stand every time she (Amber) enters the room.

Also, why is it that I remember shit I read when I was twelve in detail but the anatomy and physiology I am studying right now just seeps right back out of my brain?

Lady Balogna

[annarain]

Gimme back my books, you bitch!

I kid, I kid! I was dying laughing the whole time I read this entry, because it is so true. I can't wait to hear what you think of the other one in the series, More Than a Mistress. It is just as weird, but in a different way.

I am fine with it because the sex scenes are my cup of tea. But there were a few times my eyes were in danger of rolling right out of my head.

Re: Lady Balogna

[wickedjaw]

The first thing I am saying about More than a Mistress is, HIS NAME IS FREAKING JOCELYN??? I WANT TO GO INTO HIS FICTIONAL UNIVERSE, KICK HIM IN THE NADS, AND STEAL HIS LUNCH MONEY (DO THEY HAVE LUNCH MONEY AT ETON?)