The one I recently finished was just alright. Don’t get me wrong, the espionage, evading hired guns, private jets, black SUVs and an action packed chase in a golf cart was cute. And there were considerable amounts of steamy copulation but it was just so yawn.
My beef with this book is that it was clearly written for women by a woman yet has shit like this in it more than once:
“Jesus, Shayne, we’re going to run out of fuel at this speed.”
“You wanted to haul ass, I’m hauling ass.”
“At least it’s not Brody. He flies like a woman.”
Shayne looked pained. “Don’t let him hear you say that. He’ll kick your ass.”
Excuse me, Ms. Jill Shalvis author of Smart and Sexy, I take offence… not only because your book title was misleading (it was not smart and only mildly sexy) but for your jab at womankind. Was a study released that women on average fly planes at speeds slower than their male colleagues? I missed the memo. Or maybe our apparent poor driving abilities translate to the air. Oh yeah, we’re supposed to be technically inferior, I forgot.
I don’t understand why Shalvis would perpetuate the notion that it’s insulting to be called a woman. So insulting in fact, that it’s worthy of an ass kicking to reaffirm masculinity. This just reflects the larger incorrect assumption of women as ineffective and weak. Romance novels should embody respect for women and cut out all misogynistic statements however brief. I'm not looking for a literary masterpiece. I only ask to be turned on, not pissed off.
At least pick a stereotype that has some legitimate basis to it. I wouldn’t have a problem if Brody shaved his legs like a woman, used tampons like a woman or wore a dress and heels like a woman. What about Shayne, he’s got a name like a woman. Is he going to beat his own mother up?