Book Obsessed: jodie becker

Please join me in welcoming Jodie Becker, author of Dirty Beautiful, and Sidney Bristol, author of Flirting with Rescue, as they provide us with a guest post today.
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Sparks—and clothes—fly when hot veterinarian Cody-Lynn Parker shows up at Scott Carillo’s animal shelter. Scott’s had a bad run with women, but he can’t keep his hands off Cody’s luscious curves.

Cody’s trying to be professional, but she can barely concentrate on work thanks to her craving for the tall, dark and sexy Cuban. She kisses caution goodbye and Scott hello when his shirt comes off.

Between naked star-gazing and naughty massages, their steamy fling turns into an affair of the heart. But when thieves target Cody, she finds herself flirting with danger, and Scott wants to rescue her whether she thinks she needs it or not.

Disillusioned by love, Erica has tasted the bitter pill of betrayal and wonders if she’s enough for one man. When a hot guy moves in next door, Erica decides to settle for good old-fashioned lust. What starts out as a simple seduction quickly evolves, and Erica is fast finding out Dylan is dangerous not only to her libido, but her heart as well.

Recently retired from the adult-film industry, Dylan hopes for a fresh start in Templeton where his porn persona, Drake Van Wulf, is unknown. His new neighbor is unlike the women he’s accustomed to, but she stirs his blood nonetheless. His rule not to get involved is quickly tested by Erica and her lush curves. Unable to withstand her allure, Dylan finds himself wanting more from Erica than just her body. He wants her heart also.With the secret of his past hanging in the shadows, Dylan’s about to find out if love truly conquers all.

Contemporary Romance in the movies

I love modern day chick flicks. These are the movies I get together with the gals and go and watch it, man free… Well, except for the hot guy on the screen… and any other dudes in the cinema who was dragged along to watch it. *giggles behind hand* And you know, these films gross a lot of money. The churn them out and they are romances we like to read. Now, everyone has heard of Pretty Woman. It’s the movie that made Julia Roberts basically. Oh, and revived ‘Pretty Woman’ the song by Roy Orbison. If I had to pick my all time contemporary romance movie, it’d have to be Don’t Tell her it’s me with Steven Guttenberg. It’s about this guy who is a geek and tries to ask this girl out and when she rejects him, his sister, who happens to be a romance author believes she has the recipe to make her fall in love with him. See where this going right? And you know what exotic place he picks. A New Zealander! Awesome. I totally dug the good guy trying to get the girl and the emotional roller coaster they go through. I won’t tell you anything more, but here is the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfzCHP3Lfvc

What about you, Sid, what is your ultimate romance movie? Has to be contemporary though. I would’ve chosen The Lakehouse but it has paranormal elements…

Was I even alive when that movie came out? I think I need to see if it's on Netflix or something. Hm. I have two movies that I could call my favorite, ultimate romance movie, both for good reasons. But if you push me, I think I have to pick The Holiday. Two couples, twice the romance, twice the heartache and none of the assurances: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOzD1zPc29w I liked Cameron Diaz and Jude Law's story, but for me Kate Winslet and Jack Black made the movie. While I love friends to lovers and the realized unrequited love story, like what Kate's character has, things don't always work out. Not everyone has the same feelings, and sometimes you just fall for the wrong person. I love Kate and Jack's relationship in the movie because it's funny, she learns to have gumption and look beyond what she has. The movie ends with a Happily Ever For Now ending, but I think that Kate's character, Iris, could pick up, move to LA and blaze her own path, just like all of the leading ladies before her. It also doesn't hurt that Jack Black makes for a surprising adorable romance hero. It looks like we both have a thing for the comical romances, Jodie. What does that say about us?

That we like humor? No surprise. But you know, if you think about it, there is romance in almost every good movie. Even in horrors. How they pull that off who knows. But if you recall the James Bond movie a few years back, Casino Royale with Daniel Craig, he had a love interest and not like the ones from the old school. This one really touched him and gave him layers. Romance in movies speaks to all audiences on some level. But it has to be weaved in there perfectly. Bad example in my opinion, was Hit Man, my husband LOVED it, but mainly because it was tits and ass. The characterization was all over shop as far as the ‘romance’ went. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fun movie for the action, but the romance felt thrown in there. And that’s the thing. The most effective movie with romantic elements are the ones that define the character in the movie or changes their motivation. What about those ones that make you hold your breath? The ones that make your heart race and make you shed a tear? I am looking forward to One Day I love friends to lovers as well, Sid. Boy we are so similar in tastes LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU4qLmIXbOE

Sometimes I wish that the movie people would just leave romance out of the action flicks. A recent offender to me was Thor. Okay, yes, there was a ton of man candy, but the 'romance' between Thor and whoever Natalie Portman's character was felt out of left field for me. I think the lack of a foundation for why two characters fall in love is why I pick books over movies. One of my favorite emotional romance movies is (get your tissues ready) P.S. I Love You. Anyone crying yet? Yeah, that's why I don't watch the movie often. On one hand, you see this whirlwind love that swept the heroine off her feet, turn the page and as she's going through loss, she has a friend there to lean on. In her efforts to say goodbye to her deceased husband, she finds what could be her next, great love. I guess I really like the journey of romance, how it gets planted, takes root and grows. It's one reason I'm a huge fan of older movies like White Christmas and Singing in the Rain, that show a progression of the sweeter side.

I think romance takes all kinds. The fling that becomes more. The mistake that haunts you. The friends to lovers. The whirlwind romance. The slow simmer. Life and love are varied. It's great that we have diverse movies that embrace that. Getting lost in a book or a movie for a few hours to be swept away sounds like a great way to spend an evening.

So, dear reader, what are your favorite romance movies? Do you like the tear jerkers? The funnies? A classic?

To one lucky commenter we are giving away
a lovely Victorian inspired necklace.

You can find details about us at:
http://www.blogger.com/www.jodiebecker.com
http://www.blogger.com/www.sidneybristol.com

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{January 13-20, 2012}