"Intense Involvement"

Jenny Arden

I am lucky (?) enough to read many of my delicious cracky books before I find ones magnificent enough to share with you, my love-junkies. Some are merely what they are, trite romance; and some, as you are beginning to see, are pure magic. My latest offering was so magical, I had to dog-ear the first page. And 22 others. Seriously. So, let's dive in shall we?
Elise Sterling is a physio therapist from England (but she is half French) who travels to France to work with her newest client, the recently paralyzed wine mogul, Luc de Rozanieux. Luc has a "lady friend" who is far more lovely and sophisticated than Elise could ever be and therefore hilarity, I mean tragedy, ensues. Seriously, the magic starts on page one...

"It was a lovely evening, almost summer, and her crisp cotton dress was a classic shirtwaister. There was nothing especially striking about it, yet with its collar raised so that the points framed her face and with her hands slipped casually into its side seam pocket she gave it style. She looked brisk and self-sufficient, her image matching her personality[...]Now, with her emotions as well-ordered as her case notes, she had almost forgotten what it was like to be vulnerable, even if she had not forgotten what it was like to be hurt." p. 1
So, be careful when you pick your clothes...apparently they say a helluva lot about your personality.

"Noting the slightly wary glance Elise gave the powerful Alsatian, he jeered contemptuously, 'I thought you English were supposed to like animals? Nikki, be quiet!'" p. 32
That is a very specific ethnic stereotype I wasn't aware of. See? These books teach!

"As the sparkling wine was poured, Luc's sister announced 'I thought tonight we'd celebrate with some of our special cuvee.' 'An idea I heartily approve of,' Claude with a smile. 'Let's hope it won't be wasted on Mademoiselle Sterling,' Luc remarked, a sardonic joke in his voice. Addressing Elise, he went on, 'As you're English-' 'Half-English,' she reminded him. His mouth quirked ironically as he conceded the point. 'But in any event,' he said 'better qualifed, I imagine, to give me your opinion of a cup of Darjeeling tea than a glass of the chateau's wine.'" p.35

Again with the predjudce. This guy isn't an "alpha male", he is just an ass. The next 4 paragraphs are the authors belabored attempt to show that she took a wine tasting class once, including the phrase "hallmark of the best sparkling wines". So, write what you know, or take a class and throw around a bunch of crap.

"She turned on the bath taps and, noticing the botle of Paco Rabanne Pour Homme [For Men ed.] bath essence among his toiletries, she added some of it to the water. Its fragrance was sharp and bracing, and she critically sniffed at the bottle, her nose crinkling. Concentrated, the bath essence was still more pungent and masculine. It was exactly the fragrance that Luc would choose, she thought drily. Everything about the man was too damn dominant." p. 51

Oh the sexy dominant scent of Man bubble bath! What a hunk! And there does seem an alarming excess of commas being used throughout. I tried to count them, but I got up to 65 by page 15 or so and gave up.

"The conversation between them gave no indication of tension as Elise massaged his shoulders with knowing hands. But as always it required the sternest effort of will for her to ignore the virility that was stamped in every line of his hard man's body." p. 112

'nuff said.
Now, get out the hankies...this one is went he first confesses his love. And no, he hasn't stopped being an asshole, or her being a moron.

"Knowing that she was crying, in pure desperation Elise snatched herself free. Luc made a grab for her but was too late, and she began to run along the moving train towards her carriage door.
'Come back here you little fool!' Luc shouted after her furiously. 'Haven't you realized yet....? I love you!'
She reached up to catch hold of the side of the door and jumped aboard. Tears streaming down her face, and, trembling, she turned to see that Luc had broken into a limping run." p. 178

Yep. An "I love you" as someone is jumping on a French train. Wow. Oh and an insult. Oh and a crip learning to run again. A me...l'amour!
So, of course, they get their shit together eventually. But I wanted to share the last line of the book and inspire some lovin' at your homes...

"Her mind whirled for and instant as she thought of the future that lay ahead, of everything they would share in their intense [hateful ed.], tempestuous [bitter ed.] relationship, and then it came back to tonight, a whole long glorious night of love and passion, the forerunner of countless such nights." p. 189

Know what that is? Mmhmm good crack.