Book: Four to Score by Janet Evanovich
I continue to be awed at the brilliance of Janet Evanovich. Every page has a priceless gem, usually five or six. I found this bit from a sex scene between Stephanie Plum and Joe Morelli especially fantastic--funny, hot and smart all at once:
I was on the brink. I could feel it coming...the delicious pressure, the heat and mind-emptying need for release.In her How I Write book, Janet Evanovich says that Joe and Ranger are "Bad boy heroes straight out of a Regency romance and adapted to the twenty-first century." and later notes that, to her, such a hero "is really a very strong guy whose code of conduct is based on what he instinctively knows to be right and wrong, and not necessarily what society dictates." I always found these tidbits about Stephanie's men so interesting.
And then he moved his mouth half an inch to the left.
"Go back!" I gasped. "Go back. GO BACK!"
Morelli kissed my inner thigh. "Not yet."
I was feeling frantic. I was so close! "What do you mean not yet!"
"Too soon," Morelli said.
"Are you kidding me? It's not too soon! It's been years!"
Morelli stood, scooped me up, carried me into his bedroom and dropped me onto his bed...
Though I would add that they are also straight men, i.e. comedy foils to Stephanie and her friends. It's just such a wonderful brew!
Question of the day
Anyway, considering what Evanovich said above, about Morelli and Ranger being like Regency rakes, I was trying to think which specific regency rakes/heroes I'd compare Morelli or Ranger to. Any ideas?
Photo stolen from lisabea. Thanks, buddy! Also, Joe has longer hair. But hey, you can never have enough RC!
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18 comments:
Regency rakes, really...maybe that is why I love LOVE them so much ;)
Need to think about this
Is it at cardinal sin to have not read a Stephanie Plum book yet? I have been thinking about it (if that helps?)
*scrambles off to find the first Stephanie Plum book*
Lisa Kleypas's heroes come to mind. They are more like Joe than Ranger.
Ranger is more mysterious and lives by his own code of ethics you will see when you read further into the series.
Ranger reminds me of those regency guardians that end up failing in love with their wards, like Katherine Sutcliffe's men.
orannia, I just started the first one, so don't feel alone, LOL. I was feeling left out.
Now I really want to get going!!
Hope it's not a sin cause I really need to start this series. :)
The "GO BACK" cracked me up! Men always think they know what's best for us, damn them. LOL
OK, so the way that my mind works, I was totally thinking the other connotation for "straight"--I think it's been too long since I've read any m/m. lol
I LOVE this insight into these heroes. Now, I've always been much more of a Ranger girl than a Morelli girl, but to me Morelli fits more easily into this idea of Regency rake.
For Morelli, I'm not too sure. Maybe one of the Cynster heroes. Wild, but a very strong sense of family. God knows he must have one, given his and Stephanie's families!
For Ranger, I think of those spy or highwaymen Regency heroes: Jack from Quinn's Lost Duke of Wyndham, OR (and the more I think about this, it fits for me) like Simon Hunt from Kleypas' Secrets of a Summer Night. Brash, doesn't really care about society, doesn't -at least at first-want any strings in his relationship with Annabelle.
LOL Lori and Leslie!
And I now know the name of the first book - One For The Money!
No clue about Regency rakes. But the burning question I have is - Ranger or Morelli?
Ranger all the way, babe.
BLDD: I know you know this series really well - let me know what you think!!
Orannia: No, not a sin! It's more of an infraction. JK
KB: I love Joe as a Kleypas hero. Like, maybe Nick Gentry!
Lori:Ooh, and I know Tumperkin and RRR Jess are starting that first one, too.
Leslie: Well, if you like lighthearted mysteries, with a bit of romance...mmm!
Renee: Oh, now I wish I'd read Cynster. What a great answer, tho - I really can see the spy or highwayman angle on Ranger!!!
Chris!! Another Ranger girl, huh!
I haven't read all the Plum novels but the ones I have read are really quite good. She really knows how to make those men scrumdilly-iscious. :)
I have the first three Stephanie Plum books. I really need to read them. That scene you quoted sparks a lot of interest :D.
Ooooo. Ranger would have to be someone disreputable and outside the law so maybe in HeyerWorld he'd be Vidal in Devil's Cub, except with a better temper.
And Morelli is pretty respectable even while dangerous. Not terribly rich or influential sohe'd have to be no more than a baron.
Hmm. Can't think of a Heyer hero for him. I'd say Jack from Cotillion who was a devil with the women except Jack wasn't really a hero after all. Cloun would be Freddie, I'm afraid.
I just realized I can't spell Klown's name because I always listen to the Plum books on audio. Our library has a great download program.
I will let you know my thoughts on this once I have read OFTM
I haven't read the Stephanie Plum novels yet. My aunt (in her 70's) sent me several of them, so I assumed there was no sexy time and put them at the end of the TBR pile. Maybe I should bump them up a bit?
Carolyn,
First of all...I must apologize. I thought I was a follower and I was wondering today why I haven't seen any of your posts. Duh, I'm clueless at times. LOL But here I am now and what a great post to jump on board with.
I absolutely LOVE the Stephanie Plum series. :) Not only Stephanie - but Grandma Mazur. I get the biggest kick out of her. I have not read one of those books that didn't make me laugh out loud. I've had to promise Hubby not to read them in bed any more because I wake him up laughing.
When I picture Stephanie in my head I see Carla Gugino. She played the mother in the Spy Kids movies opposite Antonio Banderas as the dad.
I can't really say I 'see' anyone as Ranger - it is just a well muscled man with a dark skin tone. The same is for Morelli - only lighter in skin tone and not as heavily muscled - but not scrawny. LOL
Have a great day and enjoy your book. :)
M
Sounds like one of Johanna Lindsey Mallory brothers. I liked those comments and when you think about it, it's true, I particularly like those kind of heroes.
Tracy: She has just the key, I agree.
Amy: It's funny how many people have these in their TBR. I found mine at garage sales and thought, what the heck.
Kate: Oh, I love your suggestions. I haven't read Devil's Club, but now I totally want to!
T: Let us know!
Patti: That's really cute. I guess your 70-year-old aunt is kickier than you think!
Michelle: Hey, I'm a haphazard follower, too because i follow on my own sidebar. Anyway, so you're a gramma Mazur gal!! Yes, she'd be a great Stephanie!
Alaine: I like those heroes, too. I just never get sick of them.
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