Antony & Cleopatra by Colleen McCullough

© 2007 by Colleen McCullough

ISBN 978 0 00 722759 8

Harper Collins, London

Reviewed by Lesley Ann Smith, February 2011.

Antony & Cleopatra is the seventh book of the Masters of Rome series completed following intense lobbying from fans. The thorough research and detailed writing make this book both enjoyable and informative. The extensive detail should slow the story down but instead Colleeen creates a detailed world where the reader is happy to linger.

I've read the entire series and they're all good. This isn't my favourite but it's still a great read from this author. The romance takes time to develop as Marc Antony and Cleopatra's first union is political and Cleopatra is still grieving the death of Julius Caesar. The romance when it comes flames briefly and dies to be replaced by hatred and bitterness.

An enthralling book to the end but only if you like an abundance of historical detail. Thanks goodness we have Colleen's work to fill this niche in the historical market.

Colleen McCulloch is a multi-published Australian author and information on her other books can be found at  http://www.AuthorTracker.co.uk

This review has been written as part of WInk Girl’s commitment to the 2012 Australian Women Writers Challenge. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Women-Writers/176862202396763
http://www.australianwomenwriters.com/p/australian-women-writers-book-challenge_25.html

Kiss of the Goblin Prince--Giveaway

There’s just over 60 days until Kiss of the Goblin Prince is released (can you hear the promo wheels starting to turn?).

So while I will be blogging my butt off in May (more details later), right now I have ARCs…yep I have early copies of Dai’s book. Dai is of course Roan’s bookish brother who had a supporting role in The Goblin King.

So if you’d like to go in the draw to win one copy leave a comment. Winner will be drawn March 11 2012 7pm WST.

~~~

Trapped for centuries in the bleak Shadowlands, Dai clings to his humanity with a thirst for knowledge. But now he's free of the goblin curse, and some would say he knows too much- he can make nature bend to his will, influence the minds of others, and command magic. Yet love eludes him. Then he meets Amanda, a single mother with a sick daughter whom he feels compelled to protect. But could she possibly place her trust in the kiss of a goblin prince?

"Darkly Celtic, richly imagined, this is paranormal romance at its best." -Juliet Marilier, award-winning author of Daughter of the Forest praise for The Goblin King

Love to love those heroes

Romance fiction needs a hero for the heroine to fall in love with. It also needs a hero that each reader wants for the heroine and maybe for herself.

But what makes a hero heroic?

For me it’s two things:

• How he interacts with the heroine; and
• The journey he takes in the course of the story to become the person the heroine can love.

When the hero interacts with the heroine he should respect her and respect the role of women in society. He can be arrogant and aggressive in his approach to life and other characters – never the heroine. It goes without saying that physical and emotional violence or the threat of either is never heroic.

The journey of the hero has been well described by Campbell and Vogler. I like to see the hero struggle and change and earn the heroine’s love. My favourite part of the journey is the ‘Refusal of the Call’. No matter how short the hesitation, I like to see the hero question his ability to change and then decide that the love of the heroine is worth the risk.

Love to love those heroes.

Falling for character

I never thought I had a type—you know TDH, blue eyes or brown, muscled or lean. While I might love an actor in one TV show it’s very easy for me to dislike him in something else. I realised then it was all about the character they were portraying.

And I do have a type. But it’s all about what they do. Take a look at my current favourites list:


Jim Shannon on Terra Nova (Jason O’Mara)—family guy, ex-cop, protecting the colony
 

Dean Winchester on Supernatural (Jensen Ackles)—risk taker, out to save the world.

The Doctor on Doctor Who (#10 David Tennant)—smart, out to save the universe.

They all have one thing in common, they are doing the right thing at any cost and not expecting reward at the end. Now that’s a hero.

Can't help it - love me some Alpha Hero!

A large number of people hate the overbearing alpha male in romance books. Not me, I love the strong alpha male. He may appear to taunt or control or demand. But the love of a good woman will bring him to his knees - and I LOVE when that happens.

There is nothing better than reading a book and seeing the growth of a male character, especially our Alpha hero. I melt when I see him towards the end realise that without his heroine, his life really is an empty shell. When in a time of need she is there to give him the strength he needs.

Of course, his heroine will have to be someone who can stand up to him, a strong woman but not too strong. Someone who will question him and bring out that sensitive male that is lurking deep below. He'll only show it to her and I think that is the most romantic thing.

With the love of a good woman, he can let himself lean on someone when he needs to. He can make mistakes and not be ridiculed. He can ultimately be himself. In his business world he'll still be the arrogant, overbearing man and that's fine, in the cut-throat world of business he needs to be. But the moment he walks through that door, he relinquishes that part of him and shares his real self with the love of his life.

I love romance books!

So tell do you love an Alpha male?

Nicki