July Book Discussion - Stuck in Shangri-La
Talk Romance - from historical to contemporary
Join LibraryThing to post.
This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1onyx95
Took a while but we finally decided on Stuck in Shangri-La by Kasey Michaels. (I can't seem to get the title touchstone to work, so I am linking the author touchstone to the book - I hope).
I've taken some discussion questions from previous book discussion threads. Please add to them or change them if you like!
-What did you think of the plot? "New and fresh", "tried and true", or "oh, no, not another..."
-What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
-Who are your favorite and least favorite characters in the book, and why?
-Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialog?
-How do you think the book could have been better?
-What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
-What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
-For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favorably?
-On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
Hope everyone enjoys!
I've taken some discussion questions from previous book discussion threads. Please add to them or change them if you like!
-What did you think of the plot? "New and fresh", "tried and true", or "oh, no, not another..."
-What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
-Who are your favorite and least favorite characters in the book, and why?
-Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialog?
-How do you think the book could have been better?
-What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
-What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
-For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favorably?
-On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
Hope everyone enjoys!
2onyx95
I guess I will start.....
-What did you think of the plot? "New and fresh", "tried and true", or "oh, no, not another..."
I think I have read another book with a similar plot, but I really enjoyed the ghost and cat part of the story, that was different.
-What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
The fun of it all, the one liner type of humor that at times had me laughing out loud is just what I was wanting right now.
-Who are your favorite and least favorite characters in the book, and why?
I like Cam best, he is easy going, but he thinks also - he is not so out of it that he doesn't figure out - well everything.
-Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialog?
the whole comparison to Young Frankenstein was great. Frau Blücher made me laugh and hear horses neighing.
-How do you think the book could have been better?
I'm not sure, I would have liked more of Cam, maybe more of him working things out with Darcie. He saw the errors of his ways, but what did he do about it, he tore the lattice off the porch.
-What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
I am not sure why, I did have a bit of trouble at first getting into the book and I think it was the writing style. Once I got used to the way it dove head first into the scenes I was ok with it.
-What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
I need to find an emotional connection - this one was more of a comic connection. I liked Cams humor and his way of challenging Darcie to have a bit of humor to her as well. She did let go in a controlled way, but it was natural for Cameron.
-For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favorably?
First Kasey Michaels book for me. I am interested in reading more of hers. Reminds me of some of Janet Evanovich's early books, not the greatest love story, but a fun break from reality.
-On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
I gave it a 4 star rating. While it wasn't the greatest, I did find myself laughing and even though it is predictable I found enough to keep me entertained.
Here is a link to my review (if you are interested).
-What did you think of the plot? "New and fresh", "tried and true", or "oh, no, not another..."
I think I have read another book with a similar plot, but I really enjoyed the ghost and cat part of the story, that was different.
-What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
The fun of it all, the one liner type of humor that at times had me laughing out loud is just what I was wanting right now.
-Who are your favorite and least favorite characters in the book, and why?
I like Cam best, he is easy going, but he thinks also - he is not so out of it that he doesn't figure out - well everything.
-Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialog?
the whole comparison to Young Frankenstein was great. Frau Blücher made me laugh and hear horses neighing.
-How do you think the book could have been better?
I'm not sure, I would have liked more of Cam, maybe more of him working things out with Darcie. He saw the errors of his ways, but what did he do about it, he tore the lattice off the porch.
-What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
I am not sure why, I did have a bit of trouble at first getting into the book and I think it was the writing style. Once I got used to the way it dove head first into the scenes I was ok with it.
-What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
I need to find an emotional connection - this one was more of a comic connection. I liked Cams humor and his way of challenging Darcie to have a bit of humor to her as well. She did let go in a controlled way, but it was natural for Cameron.
-For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favorably?
First Kasey Michaels book for me. I am interested in reading more of hers. Reminds me of some of Janet Evanovich's early books, not the greatest love story, but a fun break from reality.
-On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
I gave it a 4 star rating. While it wasn't the greatest, I did find myself laughing and even though it is predictable I found enough to keep me entertained.
Here is a link to my review (if you are interested).
3Jenson_AKA_DL
My copy is "in transit" from the library which means it could be here tomorrow or next week. Hopefully soon rather than later :-)
I liked your review, Onyx, although your comment about liking Cam better than Darcie struck me. I would say in about 95% of the romances I read, no matter what the genre, I always like the guy better than the gal. There have been many times where I've said I can't stand the heroine but that the hero was great.
Funny how that works.
I liked your review, Onyx, although your comment about liking Cam better than Darcie struck me. I would say in about 95% of the romances I read, no matter what the genre, I always like the guy better than the gal. There have been many times where I've said I can't stand the heroine but that the hero was great.
Funny how that works.
4Eat_Read_Knit
What did you think of the plot? "New and fresh", "tried and true", or "oh, no, not another..."
For me this was tried and true with a twist. There was the core 'big misunderstanding because they never talked to each other' thing that they were trying to fix, but also the comic will-cat-ghost-frogs thing that made the whole thing into a wacky farce.
What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
The comic caricatures are well-written, and the mystery-lite about the plot to do away with the cat is also entertaining and well-paced. There's a lot of imaginative stuff in there and the book is very entertaining. On the other hand, all Darcie and Cam need to fix the problem is a proper conversation, which seems to be put off for days and days and days by all sorts of plot devices, when really there's nothing to stop them having the conversation and fixing the problem much earlier.
Who are your favourite and least favourite characters in the book, and why?
I like the way Darcie is written. Although she irritated me at the beginning of the book, by the end I understood why she'd acted like she had. I thought that her character development was well done.
Do you have a favourite scene or line of dialogue?
Not one particular scene, but the conversations between Horry and Lucky did make me smile.
How do you think the book could have been better?
I think that the way Cam and Darcie were stopped from having their serious conversation until the end of the book made things a bit forced and dragged things out; there wasn't really anything to stop them having the conversation earlier. Yes, they kept being interrupted, but there were hours and hours unaccounted for when they were both in the house together. I thought the conversation needed to be earlier - in which case the book would have been much shorter - or there needed to be something else which convincingly prevented them resolving their problems earlier.
What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
I think the author's style is okay. She's not one of my favourites, but I've read a few of her other books. I enjoy them well enough when I pick them up, but I wouldn't make a special effort to get hold of them.
What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
The humour and the wackiness of this book makes it a little memorable, I think, but the lead characters and the romance part of the plot are not at all memorable for me. I think it's a better book than it is a romance, if that makes sense.
For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favourably?
I liked Love to Love you Baby and Be my Baby Tonight more, and Then comes Marriage less, so I guess it comes somewhere in the middle.
On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
When I read it last year I gave it 2/5; having re-read it this month I've revised that upwards to 3/5.
For me this was tried and true with a twist. There was the core 'big misunderstanding because they never talked to each other' thing that they were trying to fix, but also the comic will-cat-ghost-frogs thing that made the whole thing into a wacky farce.
What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
The comic caricatures are well-written, and the mystery-lite about the plot to do away with the cat is also entertaining and well-paced. There's a lot of imaginative stuff in there and the book is very entertaining. On the other hand, all Darcie and Cam need to fix the problem is a proper conversation, which seems to be put off for days and days and days by all sorts of plot devices, when really there's nothing to stop them having the conversation and fixing the problem much earlier.
Who are your favourite and least favourite characters in the book, and why?
I like the way Darcie is written. Although she irritated me at the beginning of the book, by the end I understood why she'd acted like she had. I thought that her character development was well done.
Do you have a favourite scene or line of dialogue?
Not one particular scene, but the conversations between Horry and Lucky did make me smile.
How do you think the book could have been better?
I think that the way Cam and Darcie were stopped from having their serious conversation until the end of the book made things a bit forced and dragged things out; there wasn't really anything to stop them having the conversation earlier. Yes, they kept being interrupted, but there were hours and hours unaccounted for when they were both in the house together. I thought the conversation needed to be earlier - in which case the book would have been much shorter - or there needed to be something else which convincingly prevented them resolving their problems earlier.
What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
I think the author's style is okay. She's not one of my favourites, but I've read a few of her other books. I enjoy them well enough when I pick them up, but I wouldn't make a special effort to get hold of them.
What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
The humour and the wackiness of this book makes it a little memorable, I think, but the lead characters and the romance part of the plot are not at all memorable for me. I think it's a better book than it is a romance, if that makes sense.
For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favourably?
I liked Love to Love you Baby and Be my Baby Tonight more, and Then comes Marriage less, so I guess it comes somewhere in the middle.
On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
When I read it last year I gave it 2/5; having re-read it this month I've revised that upwards to 3/5.
5onyx95
Has anybody read the Maggie Kelly series by Kasey Michaels, and would you recommend them. I shouldn't even ask, I already have a stack of tbr that goes to the top of my bookcase. I was just wondering if it was a comedy type mystery or more of just a basic romantic mystery - the reviews are vague (and few), the tags are more informative but still don't tell me if it is fun (like this one was fun).
6Julia1605
Onyx, I just read the lastest in the Maggie Kelly series. I love them. They're not so much focused on the romance but on the mystery but nevertheless a great series. A bit like Suzanne Enoch's Sam & Rick series.
All in all, I think I like Kasey Michaels contemporaries better than her historicals.
Julia
All in all, I think I like Kasey Michaels contemporaries better than her historicals.
Julia
8Jenson_AKA_DL
-What did you think of the plot? "New and fresh", "tried and true", or "oh, no, not another..."
The story felt very familiar although I have no idea why.
-What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
I think the addition of Uncle Horry and Lucky was a definite strength. I didn't really identify with the main characters at all.
-Who are your favorite and least favorite characters in the book, and why?
Lucky was certainly my favorite character! If we could really talk to cats I think that the attitude really would be rather like that. Cam was a little chauvinistic for me, especially at the beginning. I will admit he seemed to mellow a bit towards the end, but I don't think he changed all that much.
-Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialog?
The memorial service totally cracked me up. I thought it was very cute.
-How do you think the book could have been better?
I can't really pinpoint anything that would have made me like it any better. Contemporaries just aren't my favorite genre, although I'm more than happy to read them on occasion!
-What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
Her writing was fine, I have no complaints. However, I can't say that I was inspired to go out and read another one by her.
-What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
The ghost story may stick out in my memory but the rest...not so much.
-For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favorably?
N/A
-On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
I rated the book 3.5 which is a pretty midline rating for me. Liked but not loved.
The story felt very familiar although I have no idea why.
-What do you think are the books strengths and weaknesses?
I think the addition of Uncle Horry and Lucky was a definite strength. I didn't really identify with the main characters at all.
-Who are your favorite and least favorite characters in the book, and why?
Lucky was certainly my favorite character! If we could really talk to cats I think that the attitude really would be rather like that. Cam was a little chauvinistic for me, especially at the beginning. I will admit he seemed to mellow a bit towards the end, but I don't think he changed all that much.
-Do you have a favorite scene or line of dialog?
The memorial service totally cracked me up. I thought it was very cute.
-How do you think the book could have been better?
I can't really pinpoint anything that would have made me like it any better. Contemporaries just aren't my favorite genre, although I'm more than happy to read them on occasion!
-What do you think of the author's writing style, and as a result of reading this book, will you look for other of her books?
Her writing was fine, I have no complaints. However, I can't say that I was inspired to go out and read another one by her.
-What makes a romance book memorable for you, and does this book qualify?
The ghost story may stick out in my memory but the rest...not so much.
-For those familiar with author, do you think this book compares favorably?
N/A
-On a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being superb, how would you rate the book?
I rated the book 3.5 which is a pretty midline rating for me. Liked but not loved.
9onyx95
Running on the last couple days of the month, what are we reading in August???
If pattern holds, we seem to be in line for a good Historical, does anyone have any suggestions to through out? I will certainly dig through my tbr.
On another note, I saw on my home page this morning that mamalaz added Stuck in Shangri-La to her library, I hope you don't forget to let us know what you think of this book - as soon as you are finished with it.
If pattern holds, we seem to be in line for a good Historical, does anyone have any suggestions to through out? I will certainly dig through my tbr.
On another note, I saw on my home page this morning that mamalaz added Stuck in Shangri-La to her library, I hope you don't forget to let us know what you think of this book - as soon as you are finished with it.
11Jenson_AKA_DL
Maybe we should just try for a September recommendation since August is half over?
Are we up for a contemporary, historical or paranormal (or something else)?
I know we've pretty much stayed away from the paranormals but I'm curious how many of us would be willing to read one.
Are we up for a contemporary, historical or paranormal (or something else)?
I know we've pretty much stayed away from the paranormals but I'm curious how many of us would be willing to read one.
12adeptmagic
If by "paranormal" you mean something with, say, a psychic element or a ghost or something, I would read that. But if you mean vampires/demons/werebeasts, then no. I don't do fangs and fur.
14onyx95
Well it is September, I would really like to get back to our group reads. Does anyone else want to? If so, we can discuss a good book to get it going again. Maybe a good historical will get us going again.
Any suggestions ??????
Any suggestions ??????
15marietherese
I can't suggest anything for September (just can't think of anything-maybe because I'm still slogging through Lord of Fire) but may I suggest Lisa Kleypas' newest, the third Hathaways book, Tempt Me at Twilight, for October or November? It's scheduled for release on September 22 according to Amazon.
Since we read the preceding novel in the series, Seduce Me at Sunrise, as a group read earlier this year and most of us enjoyed it, it seems fitting we should continue with the next book.
Since we read the preceding novel in the series, Seduce Me at Sunrise, as a group read earlier this year and most of us enjoyed it, it seems fitting we should continue with the next book.
16Jenson_AKA_DL
I like that idea very much. I knew it was coming out this month, but didn't realize it wasn't until later on. That explains why I couldn't find it at Borders the other day LOL! I had a hot little birthday gift card in my hand and was all ready to pick it up.
17Julia1605
Tempt me at twilight might be better suited as October book since it doesn't come out till the 9/22/09.
How about a paranormal or romantic suspense? I think we haven't done those yet.
Julia
How about a paranormal or romantic suspense? I think we haven't done those yet.
Julia
18onyx95
That is a great idea for October, Julia, did you have any suggestions for a paranormal or a suspense for this month?
I got a gift to amazon burning a whole in my mind, Tempt me at Twilight just might be the best thing to spend it on.
I got a gift to amazon burning a whole in my mind, Tempt me at Twilight just might be the best thing to spend it on.
19Julia1605
Well two new books are
Storm of Visions by Christina Dodd, it's the first in her new The Chosen Ones series or
To Crave a blood moon by Sharie Kohler aka Sophie Jordan it's the third in her Moon Chasers series.
I don't think I have any romantic suspense currently.
Julia
Storm of Visions by Christina Dodd, it's the first in her new The Chosen Ones series or
To Crave a blood moon by Sharie Kohler aka Sophie Jordan it's the third in her Moon Chasers series.
I don't think I have any romantic suspense currently.
Julia
20onyx95
Either one is great for me, I love reading new authors (which they both would be for me). Are we going to try to read one of these, if so, which?
I don't know how many of us are left, so Julia if you want to pick the one you want to read most (because I know nothing about either of them) - then we can call it.
I don't know how many of us are left, so Julia if you want to pick the one you want to read most (because I know nothing about either of them) - then we can call it.
21onyx95
Then again, maybe not!
** Just checked local public library - it looks like the Sharie Kohler is not available at all and the Christina Dodd, well I am 3rd in line for it but that could be nearly 3 months till I see it.
Anything else threatening to topple your tbr?
** Just checked local public library - it looks like the Sharie Kohler is not available at all and the Christina Dodd, well I am 3rd in line for it but that could be nearly 3 months till I see it.
Anything else threatening to topple your tbr?
22onyx95
Maybe Not!
** Just checked local public library - it looks like the Sharie Kohler is not available at all and the Christina Dodd, well I am 3rd in line for it but that could be nearly 3 months till I see it.
** Just checked local public library - it looks like the Sharie Kohler is not available at all and the Christina Dodd, well I am 3rd in line for it but that could be nearly 3 months till I see it.
23Jenson_AKA_DL
Storm of Visions would be my preference since it is the first of a series. Since it doesn't appear to have any of the fanged or furred perhaps some of our other members would like it as well ;-)
24onyx95
Is this (Storm of Visions) a new book that I might be able to get at WalMart or Borders?
25Jenson_AKA_DL
Sounds like it. Christina Dodd is a pretty popular author and this is a new release for her.
26Julia1605
Onyx95, yes it is. It's a release from last month.
So I'm calling the September book Storm of Visions by Christina Dodd.
Julia
So I'm calling the September book Storm of Visions by Christina Dodd.
Julia
Join to post
