Tuesday, August 31, 2010

My Top 5 Releases for September

One of my favorite posts to write is a Top 5 list. It's been a while since I've done one, but here we are with September about to start, and lots of great releases coming out. It was really hard to narrow it down to just 5, but here are my top picks for September:
  1. September 7, 2010: An Artificial Night (An October Daye Novel, book 3) by Seanan McGuire

    This UF series is one of my new favorites. It's half-fae heroine, Toby, is tough, honorable, and a little bit vulnerable. She's knight errant to Duke Sylvester, and negotiates both the human and fae worlds from an outsider's perspective. And then there's Tybalt, the King of the Cats...

  2. September 7, 2010: Warrior (The Blades of the Rose series, book 1) by Zoe Archer

    3 words stand out when I read the description for this first book in a new trilogy by Zoe Archer: Adventure. Romance. Magic. Do I need to say more?

  3. September 28, 2010: Double Cross (The Disillusionists trilogy, book 1) by Carolyn Crane

    I loved the zany originality of the first book in this series, written by DIK's own Carolyn Crane (aka Carolyn Jean). I can't wait to read more about Justine and the gang in Double Cross.

  4. September 28, 2010: Bayou Moon (The Edge series, book 2) by Ilona Andrews

    I haven't yet read an Ilona Andrews book that I didn't love. The fairy tale-meets-uf/pnr feel of the first in the series, On the Edge, made it a fun read. And, Ilona Andrews really writes great chemistry between her protagonists. So, for these 2 reasons I'm really looking forward to Bayou Moon.

  5. September 28, 2010: Simply Irresistible (Lucky Harbor series, book 1) by Jill Shalvis. Simply Irresistible
    Jill Shalvis is one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance. I loved her Wilder Adventures series, and was really excited to see this new series by her.

So, are there any books you are looking forward to being released in September?

August DIK Reading Challenge Links

This is a sticky post - for newer posts see below







Please post links to your DIK Reading Challenge submission in the comments of this post. (through 8/31/10 11:59pm)

Monday, August 30, 2010

In need of a break

If you've read the recent posts at my place, you know that the last few weeks have been more than a little crazy for me. In the last 2 weeks, I've: moved into a new home with my in-laws as landlord (with the attendant repairs, polite drama, and negotiation that it involves), become a first-time landlord (with the attendant repairs, legal stuff, and negotiation that it involves), gotten my kid into school and soccer, and started a 3rd part-time job.

I've found that I have been so exhausted at the end of the day—or even in the middle of the day when I have a few moments to myself—that I've been unable to read. The energy required to focus has been non-existent. Now, I've always read, and the idea of not having an escape is impossible for me to fathom. And, lord knows, I have been in dire need of escape. So, what's an avid reader to do?

Well, I've made a few realizations during this time.

Format: Audiobooks are the way to go when I'm too tired to even keep my eyes open to read, yet feel too restless to actually sleep. There was more than one night during the last few weeks when I'd wake up at 4am and start making lists in my head of things I needed to do the next day (or things I had forgotten to do the night before). Being able to lie in the dark (no reading lamp necessary) with my eyes closed, listening to my audiobook helped me relax and got me back to sleep much quicker.

Genre: Without meaning to, I found myself gravitating strongly toward contemporary romance. The dark urban fantasy that I love felt too bleak to give me the relaxation and comfort I was so in need of. And, the complex world building of other specualtive fiction that I enjoy so much was just too much work for my exhausted mind. Yet, the familiar world and guaranteed happy ending of contemporary romance hit that spot.



OK. Sizzling Sixteen isn't actually romance. At least not in my book. However, it's contemporary, enjoyable (if I don't expect anything to actually happen wrt the Stephanie/Morelli/Ranger triangle) and light.

Location: Enough cannot be said about how comforting it was to be able to curl up in my favorite chair, my trusty polka-dotted recliner at the end of the day. I cannot even express how wonderful it felt to climb into it and put my feet up the day after move-in. (Here's a picture of my lovely, at my old place. *strokes fondly*) Even surrounded by boxes and random furniture in the middle of the room, my buzz from sitting in my chair wasn't diminished.
So when times are crazy, and you find yourself in need of a little comfort, what are the things that you do so that you can feed your reading addiction? Is it a tub full of bubbles? Relaxing music?

Is there a specific kind of book, format or genre, that puts you into the zen of reading?

Come on back tomorrow when I confess one of my reading quirks.
Also, be sure to visit me at my place, Renee's Book Addiction.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

My dream setting

by Cate Masters

Like all getaways, they end too soon, don’t they? It was fun to spend some time at Desert Island Keepers. I hope you’ve enjoyed our short virtual getaway too.

When my hubby and I talk about dream vacations, this next setting always comes up. Hawaii. Just the name conjures images of aquamarine waters, colorful sunsets over pristine beaches, the relaxing tones of a slack-key guitar… Ahhh.

Interestingly, the setting didn’t inspire my contemporary midlength, Going with Gravity.

Rather than the tropical setting, a news story spurred the initial idea. A jet lost its fuselage in midair and managed to land with no injuries to any of its 350 passengers, despite a gaping hole in the plane. An amazing story in itself. But in reading it, I wondered about the people on that plane. More importantly, who could I put on such a plane?

To ratchet up the tension, the characters on that fateful flight had to be under personal pressure. So I created Allison Morris. A harried public relations expert, Allison stayed at her job out of dedicated professionalism. Her boss, Michelle McCarter, took her divorce from a famous rock star badly, and often left a PR mess for Allison to clean up. Others might kill to have an in with the rock star royalty she rubbed elbows with, but Allison would kill for a day off, and Michelle was becoming too much to handle. Allison had always dreamed of going to Hawai‘i, but when Michelle needs her there, she doesn't look forward to it. She's barely had time for her own life.

Poor Allison was so uptight, I needed to balance her out with someone laid back. Someone who didn't let anything rile him. Someone who believed in the path he was on. Wes Hamilton is just such a guy. Up for any challenge, he seems Allison's polar opposite, except that he holds the same basic values - he cares for people, for the environment. Despite his anything-goes appearance, he works hard, and not just at maintaining his status as a world-class surfer. He's also an entrepreneur.

So when that fuselage blew in mid-air, while Allison's in the rest room, she freaks. Wes rushes to her to make sure she's ok. His embrace turns into a kiss. For all Allison knows, this could be her last few minutes on earth. She wants more. So she earns her entry into the Mile High Club.

Hawaii has so many unique elements. As soon as you hear the sweet and soulful strains of a slack key guitar, it conjures images of the island beaches and sunsets, girls in grass skirts dancing with their hands and hips and feet. A slack key guitar is basically a six-string acoustic with the strings loosened to achieve that unique sound.

The Hawai‘ian language really amazed me. With only eight consonant phonemes, and either 5 or 25 vowel phonemes, depending on how the long vowels and diphthongs are treated. Its simplicity equals its complexity. Of course, I had to incorporate a few of the more romantic and descriptive phrases into Going with Gravity. The hero, Wes, couldn't resist the sea because of its kayani, which means “to call” or beacon. Wes taught Allison the meaning of ho`onipo: to make love, court, woo, yearn for. He also gives her a new name, Alana, which means Awakening. Unfortunately, the Hawai‘ian language is nearly extinct. As of 2000, less than 0.1 percent of the population spoke it. Hopefully no other aspect of Hawaii will become endangered.

Here’s the story blurb:
Publicist Allison Morris plans her own life – what’s left of it – around the life of her boss Michelle McCarter, the ex-wife of a famous rock star. When Michelle needs emergency public relations patchwork in Hawaii pronto, Allison arranges a flight to the dream destination. At the airport, she meets Wes Hamilton, a six-foot-three sun-bleached blond whose blue eyes and dazzling smile rekindle her fizzled-out sizzle. A world-renowned surfer, Wes captivates her with his charm and wit, though his easy fame and on-the-edge lifestyle are the polar opposite of her own. When their jet loses its fuselage in mid-air, she takes advantage of what she thinks are her last minutes alive with Wes. The plane lands safely. Wes takes care of her when her carefully constructed life begins to unravel. When Michelle accuses Allison of using Wes to gain fame for herself, Allison’s world falls apart in an explosive confrontation. Wes is waiting with open arms when she has nowhere else to go, but can Allison learn to stop planning and go with gravity?

You can read an excerpt of Going with Gravity, along with reviews, on my web site: http://www.catemasters.com/goingwithgravity.html



I’d love to give away a PDF of Going with Gravity to a commenter. Again, please include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Thanks again to the DIK ladies for having me at your virtual resort!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Another Florida getaway

by Cate Masters

Once again, thanks for having me at DIK. There’s nothing better than an escape from the Dog Days of Summer! If you can’t visit in person, a book is the next best thing. :)

Someday I hope to visit Weeki Wachee, Florida, the setting for my contemporary fantasy, Surfacing, just released this month from Whiskey Creek Press.

It’s another gorgeous Florida town, although I’d never heard of it before researching mermaids. Weeki Wachee Springs is home to the world-famous mermaid show, where women have performed underwater since 1947. Almost as amazing as the wreckers, these performers must train at a mermaid camp for these physically rigorous shows. I’m not a particularly strong swimmer, so the idea of being so deep underwater, with only an air hose nearby for oxygen, makes me nervous just thinking about it!

According to my research, the Weeki Wachee Spring is so deep, no one’s ever found the bottom. The spring’s underwater current is so strong, it can loosen a scuba diver’s mask. And yet these women perform synchronized ballet moves, and shows like The Little Mermaid (of course!)

But Surfacing isn’t about a Weeki Wachee mermaid. Not of the human variety, at least. The tiny town and its unusual residents came up in my research, and I thought it would be a fun place to have a real mermaid surface. Because mermaids love handsome guys who can sing, this particular mermaid is drawn to a down-and-out indie rock musician who comes to Weeki Wachee, where his grandfather lives. Because the hero’s a musician, the story allowed me to include some references to music I find inspiring, or amazing. Interestingly, Weeki Wachee’s history has musical ties, too – Elvis visited back in the day. He has a voice to make any mermaid fall in love.

Weeki Wachee Springs not only has the amazing mermaid show, but a full amusement park, where peacocks roam free. The park is complete with a Disneyesque Wilderness Cruise. On these river cruises, people see all sorts of creatures – pelicans, giant turtles, the occasional manatee, and alligators. Maybe even a real mermaid. :)

Another really fun story to write, Surfacing introduced me to the widespread lore of mermaids. Countries from all over the world have their own legends, from ancient times to supposed sightings as late as the 1950s. So it’s easy to see how some might become obsessed with the mers. Especially a disgruntled Weeki Wachee employee who wants to find an authentic mermaid to make a fortune.

Here’s the story blurb:
AJ Dillon is trouble. The former lead singer of an indie band has no home, no money and no future. His grandfather is the only relative willing to take another chance on him. AJ arrives in Weeki Wachee, Florida, with his guitar, a few clothes and a bad attitude. The only good thing about Weeki Wachee is the ocean -- the one place AJ feels at home.
Grandpa lines up a job for AJ at Weeki Wachee Springs, where beautiful women perform as mermaids. Grandpa says real mermaids exist, but AJ doesn’t believe – until he meets Cassiopeia. She helps his passion for music resurfaces. But greedy Chaz finds out about her, and threatens to kill them if AJ doesn't go along with his plan to make a fortune with a real mermaid show. Can AJ save Cassie, even if it means losing her?

An excerpt is on my web site at http://www.catemasters.com/surfacing.html You can read the first chapter at Whiskey Creek Press: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/chapters/Surfacing_CateMasters.shtml



Does Weeki Wachee Springs pique your interest as it did mine? I’ll give away a print copy of Surfacing to a commenter. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Do you love exotic settings in your stories?

by Cate Masters

Aloha ladies! Thanks so much for having me as a guest at Desert Island Keepers. The gorgeous island image on your site makes me crave an umbrella drink. And a vacation. :) It’s actually my topic for the next three days: settings. I’ll also give away a PDF of the featured story each day to a random commenter.

Do you love exotic settings in your stories? As someone who doesn’t travel often, I sure do. I love researching them, too.

Although I’ve used other familiar settings in stories – my hometown, or cities in which I’d worked, normally I have to rely on other resources for research. For instance, for Rock Bottom, my upcoming contemporary novel due in June 2011, I sent for a visitor’s guide for Los Angeles to get a feel for the Malibu area. The Internet provides wonderful details, of course, and I was also lucky to find a magazine feature about a great house in The Bu. For now, I’ll have to visit virtually, and bring it to life in my book.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit to Key West, Florida, with my family. What a beautiful, funky little island! History’s ingrained in its streets. Walking down Duval Street, I could almost imagine myself walking in the footsteps of previous visitors such as Ernest Hemingway, Mark Twain, John James Audubon, Tennessee Williams or U.S. Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Carter and Kennedy.

Though there’s not much of a beach at Key West, the crystal aquamarine ocean surrounding the island is perfect for snorkeling, sailing in a glass-bottom boat and other water sports. This is the hotel where we stayed – quite the view, isn’t it? I didn’t want to leave.

My vacation grew more exciting when we visited several local maritime museums, where I learned the little-known history of the wreckers. These incredible heroes amazed me. They rescued shipwrecked passengers from certain death during fierce storms, battling nature herself. Afterward, they reaped huge rewards from salvaging the wrecked ship’s cargo, but to me, they earned every penny. In the late 1800s, no real diving equipment existed. The wreckers dove to the ocean floor while holding their breath for minutes while performing dangerous tasks.

Of course, I had to write about it. Freya’s Bower released my historical adventure romance novel, Angels Sinners and Madmen, on July 27.

Here’s the story blurb:
What happens in Key West, stays in Key West. Especially in 1856, when men outnumber women by ten to one. Wrecker Sam Langhorne came to Key West eight years earlier to forget his ruined engagement. When he rescues Livvie Collins from a watery grave, he’s swept away by her beauty and spirit. He’s sworn off love, but is soon captivated by Livvie’s wit–and her determination to remain single.
The death of Livvie’s father leaves her no other option than to sail to New Orleans to live with her brother Wendell. Though she hopes to support herself by writing novels, she’s sure Wendell will try to soon marry her off, and is determined to experience life to its fullest before reaching New Orleans.
Sam is handsome and attentive, constantly surprising her with his intelligence and his interest in current literature and happenings. She gives herself to him in a night of passion so she can know the true emotion at least once in her life. But can she save herself after she arrives in New Orleans?

The first chapter is posted on my web site at http://www.catemasters.com/angels.html, along with an excerpt. I hope you’ll read it and let me know what you think.



Historical novels require additional research, of course, to provide setting details accurate for the time. I felt fortune to find those resources on my vacation, not only in the museums, but in the books I picked up by locals who’d researched Key West and its history for many years. The historical documents at the local library, too, were like unearthing a treasure chest.

I hope you’ll find it as intriguing as I did. I’ll give away an ebook of Angels, Sinners and Madmen to a commenter. I’d love to answer any questions, or hear your thoughts. Please include your email address so I can contact you if you win!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

What Are You Reading?

I've been very involved for the past week in reading the Psycop series by Jordan Castillo Price.  An excellent m/m series. 

I just finished Secrets, book 4 in the Psycop series, and also Seduced by a Highlander by Paula Quinn.

I've now started book 5 in the Psycop series, Camp Hell, as well as Cross Your Heart by Michele Bardsley.

So what are you reading?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Have you heard of the Tuesday Teaser?

Some of you know about the Tuesday Teaser but some of you may not. I've found that I get visitors to my blog I might not otherwise have and I get to find new and interesting blogs to visit. Since I'm reading 2 books at the moment I thought I'd share one of them here:


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:



  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


Today's teaser comes from Seduced by a Highlander by Paula Quinn page 34:


Her eyes grew misty with tears of humiliation and anger that she absolutely refused to shed.  


She wanted to leave her chair, storm back over to the MacGregor table, and shove her spoon into Tristan MacGregor's eye.



Oh and don't forget to link back to MizB!




FYI - my other teaser is here.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Bookworm Day 3: Favorite Erotica




Hello ladies. I've been blogging here at the D.I.K. blog for the past two days and it's been fun :)
Today I brought along Pina Coladas for everyone.

Day 1 we talked about Television Crushes. Day 2 we chatted about Heroes Who Cry.
And today, I'd like to discuss Favorite Erotica.

These are my top three favorites. Feel free to share yours too.


Wicked Ties by Shayla Black has everything that good Erotica should. There's a good plot, steamy dialogue, ménage & bondage, plus great sex scenes.

Have you ever wanted to put yourself in the hands of a man whose sole purpose is to give you pleasure?

Cable sex talk show host Morgan O'Malley, has a stalker after her. In fear of her safety, she moves from LA to New Orleans.
While in New Orleans she meets bodyguard Jack Cole..a.k.a. Master J. Jack is a self-proclaimed dominant. She plans on interviewing Jack for her show, but Morgan is attracted to him right away.

Jack winds up taking Morgan to his isolated cabin for a few days to keep her safe. Being a bodyguard, he is committed to protecting her and finding her stalker. But Jack has more than just finding Morgan's stalker on his mind.
Jack's best friend and business partner Deke, decides to help find Morgan's stalker and he winds up joining them in bed. The ménage scene in this one is HOT.

And if Jack was just using her for sex....well, why couldn't she use him too? A mad sex scientist in decadent bedroom experiment. He was absolutley no hardship to look at, and when he was buried inside her, the pleasure was intense enough to make her lose her mind.
-Wicked Ties by Shayla Black





Kathleen Dante's Entangled is erotica with a bit of the paranormal thrown in.
Kiera, the head of a toy making corporation, hires a security expert named John Atlantis a.k.a. Lantis, to find a leak in the security system. Lantis turns out to be tall, dark and handsome.

Kiera is a healer and Lantis can work magic through his thoughts, the two quickly become involved.
The sex scenes between these two were really steamy, especially since Lantis can work magic during sex, reaching all over Kiera's body with just his thoughts. Interesting concept! Here's an example:
He touched her all over. Incorporeal hands stoked her legs and belly, fondled her breasts, delved between her thighs-all at the same time. Unsubstantial mouths nibbled and sucked her nipples, trailed along her spine, swirled over her clit.
She tossed her head in a surfeit of pleasure, unable to bear the sensual overload for long. As she hung teetering on the pinnacle, another stinging caress shoved her over, straight into a powerful torrent of darkest rapture.
-Entangled by Kathleen Dante





In Nancy Madore's Enchanted Dreams Erotic Tales of the Supernatural, there are seven erotic supernatural stories that are sexy, raunchy and sometimes scary! There's vampires, aliens, ghosts and even fairies involved in the stories. My favorite in this collection was The Enchanted Forest where a woman on a hike trips and bumps her head then wanders upon a beautiful section of the forest where nothing is what it seems.

All of this was a mere fleeting thought in the back of her mind as she excitedly took off her clothes. Uppermost in her thoughts, overruling everything else, was her desire, pure and raw and true. She was unabashedly grateful that the root protruded so far out of the ground as she carefully moved herself over it. The angle, too, could not have been more suitable. All she had to do was ease herself back, little by little, opening herself to the object of her desire in small, slow increments as she inched backward onto it. The clear, sappy fluid that was released by the root not only made the entry smoother, but it seemed to heighten her pleasure as well, increasing the friction as she slid back and forth.
-Nancy Madore, Enchanted Dreams Erotic Tales of the Supernatural



So, there you have it. Those are my top three favorite Erotic reads. Have you read any of these? What are your favorites?


It's been fun posting here at the D.I.K blog these past three days. Thank you ladies! You rock!

I've got to go now.....Hugh is calling me. Doesn't he look fantastic in the water?
"What was that Hugh? You'd like me to go skinny dipping with you? Sure...."

Friday, August 20, 2010

Bookworm Day 2: Heroes Cry Too


Today I wanted to discuss a topic of conversation that has come up a few times between myself and my girlfriends. Men who cry.

We've seen it in films and on television shows, even in books, heroes who cry. Men who are not afraid to show their sensitive sides.



Is this a turn off? Personally, I think not. Don't get me mistaken, I don't want a man crying at the drop of a hat, but I do think it's fine for a grown man to cry.
It shows he has feelings and is comfortable with showing them.


What do you think? Heroes Cry Too: A Turn off? Or Not?

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Bookworm Day 1: Discussing Television Crushes



Hello ladies....My name is Naida a.k.a. The Bookworm and I'll be posting here on the island blog for the next three days. Today I would like to discuss television crushes. I know we all have them!

Here are my top 5 favorite television hunks. The men that keep me tuning in week after week, season after season.

5. Jack Shepard, LOST
Oh Jack! He is gorgeous, a doctor and is an all around good guy. I know alot of the ladies prefer bad boy Sawyer, but Jack stole my heart from day one.
I didn't... write any vows, I've been trying to for a month but I couldn't so I started to wonder why that was and as time went on it only got worse went on because I'm not good at letting go or maybe im afraid of what'll happen if I fail, but I know one thing. I would have never been able to write anything as beautiful as what you just said and last night Sarah, when you were talking about the accident, you got it all wrong. I didnt fix you, you fixed me. I love you Sarah and I always will.



4. House, House MD
He's a genuis, he's cranky, he enjoys his whiskey and will never admit to being wrong. You gotta luv him.
I am both amused and annoyed that you think I should be less stubborn than you are.






3. Don Draper, Mad Men
Don is debonair, he has style and he's a bad ass. After all the naughty things he does (ie. screwing pretty much anyone who will say yes), you can't help but be fascinated by him and root for him anyway.
The reason you haven't felt it is because it doesn't exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons. You're born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts. But I never forget. I'm living like there's no tomorrow, because there isn't one.




2. Mark Sloan a.k.a. Dr. McSteamy, Greys Anatomy
Hello handsome! Badboy attitude...check. Piercing blue eyes...check. Hot body...check. Mark and his antics are the top reason I watch this show.
And underneath that playboy charm and bad boy exterior, Mark does have a heart and is able to fall in love.

Mark: Lex - I'm still in love with you. I tried not be, but it didn't work. And Sloane's gone, there is no baby, and I don't want to sleep around. I want another chance. I'm in love with you.
Lexie: Karev, he's...Mark, I have a boyfriend.
Mark: I know. All I'm saying is that you could have a husband.




1. Luke Danes, Gilmore Girls

I always wanted Luke and Lorelai to end up together...and they did! *squeal* How cute are they?
Luke has a rough exterior, but underneath all that is a heart of gold.
Luke: Hey, Kirk, what's with the...?
Kirk: It's not a purse!
Luke: I wasn't going to say "purse". What's with the gay bag?



Those are my top 5 television crushes, what are yours?

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

"Cougars & Cubs", And No I'm Not Talking Shapeshifters....

Last week a group of friends and myself got together for a triannual meal an gab fest. We try and meet 3 or sometimes 4 times a year to catch up on what is going on and have a little fun. We have our careers in common but "shop talk" thankfully doesn't dominate the conversation. The interesting thing is that our ages range from mid 20's to early 60's but it is irrelevant, there is always plenty to talk about be it boyfriends, husbands, children...grandchildren, travels.

One of my friends lost her husband who was her soul mate and best friend in a tragic motorcycle accident about 5 years ago. To say she was inconsolable would be an understatement. In the aftermath of the accident she sunk into the depths of depression which lasted for approximately a year. It was so significant that a friend who I'm particularly close to and I thought we might lose her too. Thankfully, she eventually decided she would live and slowly began to pull the tatters of her life together. She is now 61 years of age, beautiful, very fit and extremely personable. About 2 years ago she listed with a couple of the online dating services that are available and has met some nice men through this medium. There have been a couple of guys who have been very interested in her but there hasn't been enough of a spark on her part to invest in a long term serious relationship with anyone.

She keeps very busy, but she is lonely, and loneliness isn't good for someone with her history. A short time prior to our dinner out a man 16 years younger contacted her through the online dating group and wanted to meet her. By all accounts he seemed very sincere and genuinely interested in getting to know her. However, while she professed that "age shouldn't matter" she worried that she would be considered a 'cougar' for dating a younger man! One of the younger woman in our group of ladies indicated that she had watched a show on the learning channel that profiled the dating scene where older women (cougars) specifically date younger men who are apparently referred to as 'cubs'. o_O Wow!


It seems to me there is a real double standard when it comes to this issue. Do you remember the furor surrounding Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore's relationship and eventual marriage? There is a 16 year age difference and I can remember Demi being referred to as a cougar and a cradle robber. Please, by all accounts they seem happy together, their age difference doesn't seem to bother them any!

Conversely the age difference between Harrison Ford and Calista Flockart is 22 years. I haven't read anywhere that Harrison is considered a cougar! In fact, I don't think anyone batted an eye, because it is the MAN who is older than the WOMAN. Further, I think considerable age gaps when the man is the senior has been historically accepted, but when it is the other way around eyebrows are raised and the woman gets the insulting label of a cougar.

Years ago I saw a wonderful movie called 40 Carats with Liv Ullmann and Edward Albert, here is the synopsis:

"40 carats is a diamond in the rough .... which centers around a 40's woman who goes on vacation in Greece finds love with a much younger man then abandons him to go back to her life in New York. However, she quickly finds out that her daughter is dating the same guy she left in Greece making for some awkward humorous and embarrassing moments . 40 Carats is not ha ha funny but the subtle adult humor in which it was handled makes it very funny. By todays standard, ullman would have just been passed of as silly sex starved cougar and the young male( albert) a stupid eye candy figure head. But 40 carats doesn't insult the audiences intelligence which would have been easy to do at that time. Instead it takes an intelligent and often funny look into age, gender double standards that still exist to this day to some extent."

Hello, "gender double standards" the term 'cougar' didn't exist at the time the movie was made and it never occurred to me that Ullmann's character was some sort of cradle robber. I loath this kind of gender prejudice, because that is exactly what it is. Further, in my friend's situation, I don't care how old a partner she may find happiness with is, the bottom line is that she finds a nice companion.

What are your feelings on this subject? Do you think age matters in relationships? Do you like May / September romance stories in literature?

This is me, a middle aged cougar ogling all the 'cubs' on the island.. lol

Tori and I are departing the Island today, Naida is arriving tonight and I know will have 3 days of great posts coming up! Thanks Everyone! *g*

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

For the Love of Mollie Winner!


A winner has been picked!

TORE

Please email me at KatiebabsgATgmailDOTcom to receive For the Love of Mollie.

And thanks to everyone who commented :)
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