Comments on: Two Feminists Read a Romance Novel: The Heiress Effect, Courtney Milan

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:16:49 +0000

In reply to Emma. Yes! Yes. I think a lot of her books fall short of what I want them to be. I always enjoy them, but they're not quite there somehow. It makes me sad because Courtney Milan seems like a very cool person and I would like to love her books unreservedly. Kate is very busy getting ready for some grad school (poor her), but I will tell her to swing by and answer your question about the novellas. I didn't love A Kiss for Midwinter, I admit, but The Governess Affair was quite good.

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:15:15 +0000

In reply to samantha1020. Do! It's very fun!

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:15:02 +0000

In reply to NWK (@MumsyNancy). Noted! I will recommend it to Kate!

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:14:33 +0000

In reply to aartichapati. Okay, yeah, but all romance novels have corny one liners like that. At least, 99% of the ones I have read. (Which isn't ALL that many. Never mind. Don't go by me. I don't know.)

By: Gin Jenny

Gin Jenny — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 15:13:56 +0000

In reply to Christy.

And I’ve hardly read any contemporaries! If you like an author that plays around with tropes, I’d try Cecilia Grant. Her books are full of trope subversion (though not exclusively trope subversion). Or if you want Courtney Milan, I’d read her Un-verbed series. That’s not what it’s really called but you’ll recognize it — Unlocked, Unveiled, etc.

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 03:15:28 +0000

“On paper, in theory, I love what Courtney Milan does with this book” – Yes!
Gahh, this post was so awesome, I had much the same reaction to the Heiress Effect and was wondering if it was just me. I find myself often wanting to love Milan’s novels more than I actually do, one way or another they always seem to just fall short of their potential (don’t get me wrong though, they’re still fun, smart romances, but when some elements are so promising I end up wanting more).
Kate, you mentioned you were left a little cold from the relationship itself and I was wondering if you have tried Unlocked, A Kiss for Midwinter or The Governess Affair? I think Milan works really well in short form, and to me these novellas have better chemistry and a more natural flow to them. I find that, because of the length, the concept for the romance is simpler and better executed, without as much external conflict that’s forced in to up the drama

By: samantha1020

samantha1020 — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 02:14:58 +0000

I loved reading both of your thoughts on this book. This is ANOTHER of those historical romance authors that I haven’t had the chance to try yet. But I love the idea of an author that doesn’t write a typical kind of romance novel. I’m going to have to read this one for myself!!

By: NWK (@MumsyNancy)

NWK (@MumsyNancy) — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 20:51:49 +0000

Oh, I love you and Kate together! Brava! Also, now I really want you both to read one of my very favoritest romance novels – one of the first modern Gothics – Mary Stewart’s Nine Coaches Waiting. No sex! But it owes quite a lot to Jane Eyre and yet it is (IMHO) utterly delightful and quite suspenseful and very much itself, AND has a hot anti-hero. Please do! The heroine is a leetle bit slow to notice the danger, but she is not a lovesick idiot.

By: aartichapati

aartichapati — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 03:26:53 +0000

Oh, I read a short story by Milan and enjoyed it. Similarly, it had a woman who was not classically beautiful but who was very attractive to the hero. Also, it had characters who were perhaps not FULLY 3-dimensional. And some corny one liners like “He loved her. And it hurt him.” Or something about kissing in public with tongues. But a fun read nonetheless!

And I agree – people like different things!

By: Christy

Christy — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 22:42:38 +0000

I’ll have to check out Courtney Milan. So far the romance novels I’ve liked best have been the contemporary ones that have a good sense of humor, but I’m willing to try another historical romance, if it’s by an author that likes to play around with the tropes.